March

Friday, March 22, 2013 FIND OUT IF YOU REALLY KNOW MOHI

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The Howler Volume 14

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

THE WAITING GAME

Issue 7

Photo of Andy Kim, by Olivia Coleman . Illustration by Aleiya.

Seniors await college admissions decisions

by Olivia Coleman

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ith only about nine weeks until graduation,“It’s really stressful because there are a lot of people who already know and have already decided where they want to go. I feel like I’m sitting in limbo. I don’t even know if I’ve gotten in and I don’t know how I’m going to decide,” explained senior Shay Gilpin. Luckily for Gilpin, she is supposed to hear from one of her top choices, University of California at Santa Cruz, in March.

Applying to college is a long process. For most colleges, early admission applications have a higher chance of being accepted. Applying early admission also gives people a shorter waiting time before they find out if they’ve been accepted. A few months after early admission there is the general admis-

sion deadline, which tends to be when most seniors send in their applications. Completing general admission applications on time can be hectic for many seniors, especially when they also have school and extracurriculars going on. Once acceptance letters start coming in, seniors usually are in the process of applying for scholarships. These scholarship deadlines create an stress for seniors.

Senior Ben Goossen had a different response about his experience. “It sort of sucks. I go home and check the mailbox immediately, but other than that it’s not too bad. I know I got into CU so it’s not that much pressure,” he said. Even though Northwestern is his first choice, he considers CU his “safety school” which eases some of his worry since he has already been accepted.

The stress seems to fall more heavily on

senior Nik Lesch. He applied to only two schools, CU and UCLA, and hasn’t heard back from either. “It’s pretty stressful, I didn’t think so at first but these past couple weeks have been really nerve wracking,” he said. He should get a letter from UCLA, his first pick, by the end of March. Lesch is counting on CU as a backup if he doesn’t get into UCLA. He explained that another option is to apply to CSU, before May first.

Senior Andy Kim has his heart set on Cornell University, but is still waiting to get a letter from them. He has also applied to the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, CU, CalTech and Mines. The waiting period for him hasn’t been any easier than for others.

“It’s really nerve wracking, [the letter] comes

out in two weeks and everyone is tense about it and we’re all waiting for decisions,” he said.

Although he is nervously awaiting his letter from Cornell, Kim feels some relief knowing that he is already accepted into CU. The college application experience creates a chaotic time filled with anxiety and tough decisions, but seniors will soon be done with the process. The national decision date is May first, so the stress will soon be over, and seniors will be on their way to the next part of their lives.

OPINIONS Jon Ansell’s Cancer- Public Display of Affection Goes Fighting Afro Student donations go to the American Overboard in Halls Cancer Society

by Arika Rooney

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n a crowd of Steve Madden boots, North Face jackets and perfectly groomed hair, there is one student who stands out: Jon Ansell. Many know Ansell as “afro-kid”, “the big hair” and “Sky Blu” because of his distinguishable head-ofhair. If Ansell raises over one thousand dollars by April 5th, he will shave his afro, ‘Robert’ (the name the kids at his work gave his hair).

This will all go down at the prom assembly and donate the money to the American Cancer Society.

“American Cancer Society is a big name when it comes to non-profits dedicated to the fight against cancer. It funds research, helps people get well and it works with lawmakers to pass laws to help the fight against cancer!” said Ansell.

Ansell had been toying with the idea ever since the end of last year when Mr. Mainland approached him and suggested he shave his head for St. Baldrick’s day. St. Baldrick’s Foun-

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by Bridget Anthony dation is a childhood cancer charity to help find a cure for children diagnosed with cancer.

Ansell, getting ready for college, decided that now was the time for a change.

Ansell has not only made an impact with the money he is raising but without his hair, he will also conserve water. “ I can only comb my hair when there is conditioner in it, so, I wash and comb it every night.

As a result my showers take about 20 minutes.

I’m excited for the stereotypical 5 minute “boy shower”.”

The money he is raising can help find cures, provide support for families through counseling and fund patients financially with the cost of transportation to and from treatments.

As of March 20th, Ansell has raised six hundred and twelve dollars through his donation bucket and website. He is well on his way to his goal-- but the more money he raises the more people he can help. Who knew curly locks could be worth so much?

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ublic Displays of Affection (PDA) are acts of love displayed by couples in public. This usually includes kissing, hugging, hand holding, and many other activities that people usually reserve for the comfort of their homes. However, walking the hallways at school makes me doubt that people reserve much for private anymore. Every day going from one class to another, I am forced to walk around couples sitting on top of each other on the ground or who are entangled in a classic embrace lasting about 18 times longer than it should. High school is hard enough without being forced to feel awkward around fellow classmates and their significant others for five minutes between each class.

I really do love couples and think it is great that they found each other. I even love pecks and hugs and the occasional hand hold. However when it gets to the point that couples are making out or hugging for an extensive amount of time, I think most of the school would agree that that is a bit much for the halls.

Racing through the school from one period to the next and dodging embraced couples is simply not practical. It is hard enough to get out of class, to your locker, and then your next class in five minutes without any unnecessary obstacles along the way. Chemistry teacher Charles Schoep agrees. “I think there is probably a more appropriate place for that than

in the hallways of Monarch,” he said That does not mean there is not a happy medium, though. “I think the holding hands and the peck on the cheek and goofy look in each other’s eyes is cute and stupid and can be laughed at but sometimes what is going on in the hallways is starting to get a little gross,” said Schoep.

Every student at Monarch deserves to be comfortable in school and sometimes the overdone practice of interlocking people and long make out sessions becomes excessive and awkward. I understand that saying goodbye to your significant other for a full class period (especially on block days!) is difficult but it is unfortunately necessary and often times the goodbyes are drawn out to a ridiculous extent. Even if you love each other, saying goodbye for 90 minutes should not be out of the realm of possibility.

High school is where we grow up and mature to the point where we are ready for college. Excessive PDA just makes us look childish. Schoep agreed, “Our job is to train you guys to go to college and in to the world. You don’t walk around office buildings and see people cubby cuddling.

That’s not really how it’s done.”

Should there be a rule against it? Absolutely not. “People would just laugh at it,” said Schoep.

I would love it if people would continue to spread the love around. Couples really are incredible, but please, keep the public

Pep Assemblies and Paying the Price the Dangers of for a Public Indoctrination Education Public school fees weigh heavy on some

by Jack Howard

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onarch High School, like so many schools of the modern age, hosts semi-regular pep assemblies. The goal of these assemblies is to instill students with a sense of school spirit find a feeling of unconditional pride towards our school. Regularly organizing assemblies with said intention certainly warrants scrutiny.

Addressing the basic content of such assemblies, they usually consist of random, chaotically organized performance art. It is not uncommon for students’ to be incapable of identifying the purpose of pep assembly proceedings. Such demonstrations tend to be immensely vacuous and immature in presentation and content. For example, the chant students perform at the end of pep assemblies is trite, vacuous, and corny. Plain and simple.

Arbitrary contests are often held between individuals of each class and tend to have a predetermined outcome: senior victory. Encouraging students to take pride in their fellow classmates’ skill in an entirely arbitrary and superficial contest is simply vapid and nonsensical. Despite the aforementioned banality of pep assemblies, some members of the student body may want to voluntarily participate in viewing them. Voluntarily participation in pep assemblies would be acceptable policy in our high school. But compulsory attendance at insipid, extracurricular gatherings completely devoid of educational content is worthy of ruthless intellectual condemnation.

In addition to the mandatory status of our pep assemblies and their vapid content, let’s address the implications of the loosely defined goal of these gatherings: to instill pride about our school within the student body. Accomplishing this through moronic, insipid performance art doesn’t exactly seem effective, but more importantly, let’s look at the dangers of group thought and indoctrination. Monarch’s reputation as a school can stand on its own.

Students can very easily establish their own

opinion about our school without its attempted dictation at regularly occurring gatherings.

Instilling unconditional pride within students towards their school will ultimately, negatively affect our school’s reputation. Students must have more complex opinions about our school if its reputation is to ever progress. Students should examine our school critically and attempt to rectify aspects of it they find less than adequate. If students’ opinions towards their school are formed from dictation at pride parades and not through critical analysis, our school’s achievement as an educational institute will stagnate. If students possess feelings of unconditional pride towards their school, policies that would negatively affect Monarch could be imposed without student resistance.

Allowing students to independently form their own, multifaceted opinions towards our school will create a far more nurturing and authentic environment concerning our school’s academic progress.

In some instances, school assemblies celebrate student athletic achievements within Monarch. The vast majority of students viewing such celebration have nothing to do with said athletic accomplishments. Students should not be encouraged to take pride in the accomplishments of individuals whose closest relationship to them is attending the same academic institution. Also, students who have accomplished something should take pride in such achievements on their own volition. They shouldn’t be hailed by school administration and paraded around as idols to the remaining populace.

So, I, as a student of Monarch High School call upon our administration to abolish these transparent attempts at indoctrination known as pep assemblies. At the very least, I call upon school staff to make attendance at these gatherings voluntary. Those who agree with the opinions espoused in this article may wish to participate in civil disobedience by refusing their attendance at pep assemblies... but then again that wouldn’t be showing school spirit.

families shoulders

by Olivia Coleman

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hen you hear the term “private school”, negative connotations tend to come up.

The most common stereotype is the notion that those who attend private schools are rich. Although this might sound negative, it is somewhat true. According to The Denver Post, the average tuition for one year at a private school in Colorado is over $5,000. With big expense in mind, a lot of parents send their children to public school to avoid breaking the bank. But are they really avoiding high costs much as they thought?

As students get farther into high school, parents have to dig further into their wallets.

It seems that little fees pop up completely unexpectedly throughout school. Almost every science class in the school requires at least a $15 fee for lab supplies. If that’s not enough, there’s up to a $50 fee for parking at the school, as if having a car isn’t enough of an expense. It may not seem to be a lot, but for some families, fees like this really start to add up and can be hard to keep up with.

Every once in awhile, classes go on field trips. Depending on where the field trip is and how that class is going to get there, there might be a lot of money that has to go into the trip. Especially for overnight trips, the cost becomes overwhelming and cause stress for many families. Some trips offer financial aid, but how much do public schools have to give out as scholarships?

Another cost that seems to be absolutely absurd is the cost of a textbook. Most textbooks cost up to $200 and if that book goes missing, all the responsibility is piled onto your back.

When students receive textbooks, they automatically have to fill out a damage report. If students don’t write down the damages on every single square inch of the book, it’s up to students to pay for minor damages like pencil marking or bent pages at the end of the year.

A textbook in mint condition is close to impossible to come by in high school.

Similar to having a textbook, math classes starting from Algebra 2 require every student

“Almost every science class in the school requires at least a $15 fee for lab supplies. If that’s not enough, there’s up to a $50 fee for parking at the school, as if having a car isn’t enough of an expense.” to have a graphing calculator. The cheapest price that you can get a graphing calculator for is around $100. This is an expense that is mandatory. Although many teachers do have calculators to lend out during class, there is no way that a student can do school work at home without one. Luckily, these calculators are durable and can end up lasting quite a long time, but it still seems like an unreasonable expense to have to pay.

A cost towards the end of the year that makes a dent in parent’s wallets is the cost of AP testing. This year each test comes to a whopping $89. It may not seem like a lot until someone ends up taking numerous AP tests.

This is one expense though that in the long run is completely worth it. It might seem like a big cost at the moment, depending on the score of the AP test, if you can get college credit for it, that is a bundle of money you will be saving. College is full of ridiculous expenses, so by taking these tests, you really can save up.

All in all, the expenses needed to be paid in public schools start to add up. Even though it only adds up to a fraction of even one year at a private school, it’s still too much. Parents send their kids to public schools knowing that they can get a good education but keeping in mind that they’ll also be saving a lot more money than sending their kids to a private school.

While that is true, public schools keep adding more and more fees for families to pay that might eventually seem unbearable.

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the necessity of technology in school A step in the right direction towards a more accessible source of information

Technology distracts students from learning correctly

by Conner Lund

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World Geography teacher Matt DiCarlo assisting students through a technology based activity. (Photo Credit: Conner Lund)

by Katie Berohn

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n recent years, many teachers have been actively making a shift from traditional education to a completely new phenomenon--the use of technology in the classroom.

While technology may not be a universal solution to the problems found in learning, it is a tool that should be utilized by teachers wherever it can be used to enhance the way students learn.

Before technology, many students had only one way to learn material--lecture notes. Lectures can get boring and many students lose their focus. In addition to this, if a student is absent from class on a lecture day, they have missed their chance to take notes and learn the material. Sure, they can always borrow notes from a friend, but mindless copying doesn’t help a student learn. With the use of technology in the classroom, many teachers are able to offer materials online that would be otherwise unavailable to students, like interactive videos and online tutorials. This is also a helpful study tool to students who are trying to make sure that they understand what’s going on before a test or a quiz. Having resources online provides a way for students to learn things in a new and interesting way.

Technology also offers unique ways for students to share their work and ideas. With the invention of things like Google Docs and Schoology, students are able to share their work with a simple click of a button. Not only that, but they are able to edit and share constructive criticism. Being able to interact with other students is a vital part of learning, and technology allows a window to communicate that is open all the time. With technology, students are able to communicate effectively with each other whenever they need to.

Now that students are able to access the internet easily and carrying around burdensome textbooks is no longer a problem. Online textbooks are the new norm. Many students complain that their backpacks are too heavy, and some may even argue that textbooks will give them back problems later in life. With a laptop, every textbook you could possibly need is at your fingertips. Carrying around a laptop is easy--and it won’t hurt your back in the process.

Technology makes life simple.

Some students are unable to learn effectively from a lecture. Whether this is because of their learning style, the way their teacher teaches, or trouble concentrating, it is a very real problem that 4 many students face. The internet

offers many solutions to this quandary. Online tutorials, videos, and resources give every kind of student a way to learn material that will help them. Without technology, they would be stuck with trying to learn things one way--and people don’t learn like that. Kinesthetic learners will never be able to learn things the same way as an auditory learner, the brain simply doesn’t work that way.

When debating Mitt Romney this fall, Barack Obama said “You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military’s changed.”

The same is true of technology.

We may have fewer textbooks, but that is because the nature of our world has changed. Technology has become essential to learn.

These days, most jobs require knowledge of technology.

Why not start teaching students the basics early? If students are technology savvy before they even leave high school, their knowledge will give them a leg up in the real world when they start searching for their career.

Whether or not people want to accept it, the world is making a shift towards more technology. Just as many people were against women’s suffrage or the civil rights movement, many people feel the same about technology. However, just like suffrage and civil rights, the shift towards technology is inevitable.

hroughout the 21st century, the world has experienced a wave of technological innovation. The invention of the tablet, the rise of Apple, and the rush by phone companies to create the best product has left the world dumbfounded with new choices for consumers.

This technology that we have experienced has been a positive change for a faster, more accessible world. Although technology has benefited certain sectors in our world today, technology still has limitations, notably the classroom.

Technology in the classroom plagues adolescent minds with a new distraction: the internet. Filled with mindless violence, pointless activities, and unintellectual thought, the internet in the classroom allows any student to access any number of websites. Now, one might say, “How could the teacher allow kids to go unrestricted on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc.?” but how can one teacher simultaneously monitor 30 students, and be able to readily control the websites they get onto, while still effectively teaching?

I agree that in fact, technology can serve it’s purpose in the classroom, but right now it is not. It is too early to implement this oneto-one policy. Without any strict rules against visiting distracting sites, students can and will access sites not relevant to the current lesson.

And teachers can try as hard as they can, but to regulate an entire class for the entire period is next to impossible.

Technology today has not been able to teach students better than they are being taught right now. Technological tools that are used in the classroom today serve the same function as textbooks, just through a different medium. The issue with this is that textbooks are readily available for students, and

are a more feasible option for the individual as well as the district. Technology requires a sturdy wireless infrastructure, devices for all, and new lessons for teachers to actually be able to teach with these new innovations.

The issue here is strictly money. All of these options cost a lot of money for the district, as

“Technology simply is not the step in the right direction for now.” -Conner Lund they now have to install wi-fi for every school.

It also costs a lot of money for the individual, as families and students must buy laptops and devices for classroom use. Using technology is equally as effective as using textbooks, so we must choose textbooks, as they are cheaper, and are just as effective as using devices in the classroom.

I agree that in the future, and with the right new innovations, technology in the classroom can help students learn, but right now it is not. The issues involving technology are strict implementation, and the repercussions that go along with technology in the classroom.

Although the tech wave has brought us truly unimaginable new opportunities, the length of which these features should extend are still limited, especially in the classroom. With lax regulation on internet, scant opportunities to have kids stay on track, and a lack of technology that can make learning more accessible online than in a textbook, technology simply is not the step in the right direction for now.

Cartoon Credit: Terran Fox

DECA-cated Tyler Warner Takes Doing District One Representative Away with Dewey support me is the best.” said Warner.

Monarch’s DECA chapter is one of the most renowned in the state.

This year, out of Monarch’s total chapter enrollment of 226, Monarch took 84 students to state and qualified 31 to go to internationals out of 3,000 that attended the State Tyler Warner stands on stage as District One Representative. (Photo coutresy of Chelsea Yoshikawa) conference as a whole.

Monarch

by Arika Rooney has had a state officer applicants every year and a represenECA is an international organization for tative almost every other. Hayley and Josh students enrolled in marketing educaDardick left their legacy as treasure and a tion. DECA strives to create emerging district representative in the year 2012, one leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in maryear before Warner. Five years ago Monarch’s keting, finance, hospitality and management own Gabe Keeler was the Colorado DECA state in high school and colleges around the globe. president. There are a total of 17 state officers For many kids like junior Tyler Warner, DECA in the State of Colorado who are in charge of a is much more. “DECA is an organization various program of work. which allows me to be professional but have State officers have to join every schools’ fun. It allows me to compete in an even playchapter together, run membership caming field one which I would not get by playing paigns, and perform specific projects. In sports because of my cerebral palsy. The years past Colorado DECA has raised monevents are a lot of fun because you can meet ey for “Project Mercy” which is a non-profit new people. DECA gives me a sense of comwhich helps provide aid in Ethiopia. In years munity, knowing that my friends are there to past, Colorado DECA was able to raise $30,00

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to build a library in Ethiopia to help educate the countries youth. The state officers also organize individual districts and the State conference which is held in Colorado Springs each February. State officers must have great communication to inform specific chapters presidents, public speaking skills to speak in front of large crowds, sometimes over 4,000, and most of all they have to live the values of DECA. the core values of DECA are: social intelligence, leadership development, civic consciousness, and vocational understanding, all of which are apparent in Warner.

This year, Warner took the District one representative title.This is the largest district in the state; home to the some of the biggest chapters in Colorado. Tyler is in charge of Legacy, Mountain Range and Monarch. Seven other students made it to the final round for state officer candidates in district one, four of which from Monarch. To be considered for an officer position at the state level the student must take a test on DECA knowledge, create a brochure about themselves, prepare speeches, answer questions and facilitate multiple interviews. Warner took marketing one his sophomore year to follow in the footsteps of his siblings and to broaden his knowledge in business and marketing Having state officer from Monarch helps get recognition on the state level for our school and community. “It shows the quality and reputation of our students who can and want to give back,” said Dana Anderson, Marketing teacher and DECA advisor at Monarch. Tyler Warner will have a lot of tasks to complete in his next year in the State office. The tasks he will complete will not only help Colorado and national DECA but also Monarchs community. Warner hopes to inspire others to make a difference in their community, by taking these first steps to enhance his community.

T4O Promotes Cleaner and Greener Fountains fountains allow students to fill up their water bottle, and track how many plastic water bottles the fountain has saved.

Every time a student fills up a water bottle, the counter adds one plastic bottle saved.

“These new water fountains are essential to provide not only a greener, more plastic-free zone, but to encourage participation and to spread awareness about the havoc plastic creates on our world,” said senior Tessa Hunt-Woodland, one of the club leaders. “[The water fountains] get us away from disposable plastic bottles Students enjoy cold, clean water while also saving plastic and the environthat eventually reach landfills” ment. (Photo courtesy of Chris Walker/Chicago/Tribune/MCT) said Teens 4 Oceans sponsor Dave Thomas. “Also, it will reby Conner Lund duce plastic use, and save students money.”

These fountains are not cheap, though. eens 4 Oceans are championing a new With the digital bottle counter, electronically idea for the school: advanced water chilled water, and installation, the price is fountains. These aren’t just the normal, quite high. Teens 4 Oceans has already put germy, boring fountains, dispensing lukeon a fundraiser selling art, and now are planwarm, unpleasant water. These new water ning a movie night on May 3rd. In the future, fountains distribute cold, clean water, and T4O will be selling reusable water bottles to have unique features with a specific purpose promote this idea of reducing the use of plasother than just dispensing water. These

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tic, and to help fund the fountains.

Currently, the plan is to buy one or two water fountains, but two is going to be a stretch with the funds available. “New technology can be pricey, we all know that, but the benefits outweigh the price of the fountains.

Thinking about the cost of buying individual water bottles and how many kids go to this school who can use this fountain, I’d say that it would pay for itself after about a month or so of use,” said Hunt-Woodland. “This project is something we’re passionate about and [we] hope that our club continues to contribute to a more eco-friendly school district even after half of us leave for college.”

Although pricey, the long term benefits will outweigh the costs. Setting this precedent could open new opportunities not just for the school but the entire district. “We hope that Monarch can be a role model for other BVSD schools to step up their game and promote a greener lifestyle. Kids can be ignorant of how their actions affect the world around them, but with adequate knowledge they can be brilliant,” said Hunt-Woodland.

Students can support T4O by going to the movie night, scheduled in May. Also, be on the lookout for water bottles that should be on sale shortly to support the new fountains.

Monarch library to try new book and shelving system

by Anna Blanco

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ince the 1800’s the Dewey Decimal, which is a system that groups books by subject and classifies them with numbers, has been the standard way to organize a library. Recently, however, public and school libraries are exploring new ways to organize their stacks in order to meet the needs of visitors.

No one in BVSD has ever taken on the challenge of creating a new system... until now.

Monarch librarian Beatrice Gerrish has been contemplating rearranging the school library for several years, but this year she decided to do it. Gerrish and her staff (including Susan Rundell, and parent volunteers Lucy Kelly and Sarah Peters) want to reorganize the library to make the library as accessible and attractive as possible for the students.

Gerrish is hoping that this new layout of the library will benefit all the students and staff here at Monarch, including those who don’t use the library much. “It is going to make the library much more appealing, and accessible, for nonusers,” explained Gerrish.

The library staff has already started rearranging the nonfiction section, because this section is used often by students and teachers. One of the ideas that the staff came up with to organize this section is to create a “world timeline” of history, and have the current events at the end so that the organization seems more logical. Currently the history books are located in the back of the nonfiction section in the 900’s and the current events are located in the 300’s, more towards the front.

Senior Jake Stapleton really enjoys reading non fiction books. Stapleton said, “I’m really appreciative of what they’ve done back there, because everything is now in a genre relating to the subject.” He finds it much easier to find books this way rather than the way they used to be organized. Stapleton pointed out that “No one memorizes the Dewey Decimal system, so you basically just have to either ask the librarian or look until you find an author or a title you like.”

Gerrish explained that there are five steps to getting the library rearranged; the first step is pulling the books from the shelves. Second, Gerrish and her staff must agree on the new locations of the books. The third step is checking to make sure that each section flows into the next section. Next the location of the book must be changed in the computer and put new labels on the books. The final step is to then replace the book on the shelf in its new location.

Gerrish hopes to have the nonfiction section completely rearranged by the end of this year, and have the fiction section started by the beginning of next year.

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MIXED RESULTS FOR ONE-TO-ONE be expanded to grades 9 through 12. there is a chance that Before this program was even possible, the school had to instal a completely new wireless system, and the acceptable use contract that students sign at the beginning of the year had to updated.

Staff and students have found that there are both positives and negatives to having this technology available for use in classrooms. Many of the students with computers find it useful to have these tools accessible for learning. Sophomore Elena Familetto said, “Using computers is helpful when teachers know what they are doing.” Heraa Hashmi, also a sophomore said, “I think teachers Sophomores Mira Guha and Tracey Van Hove use their laptops to do homework in the forum while eating lunch. (Photo credit: Anna Blanco) are still learning how to use the program, and are trying to figure things out, so it’s kind of challenging in class when most of the stuby Anna Blanco dents are waiting for the teacher to figure it uring the 2011-2012 school year Prin- out.”

A common problem in the classroom with cipal Jerry Anderson decided to incorporate more technology into day- any type of technology is distractions.Students could be texting on their phones, playing to-day school activities, introducing Monarch to a program called One-to-One. The fresh- games, or on social media sites. Principal Jermen, who are now sophomores, were asked ry Anderson pointed out that “We are having to make really clear expectations about facebook to bring laptops or tablets to school daily so teachers could use the technology to enhance and social media,” because it is a common problem. the students learning experience.

Spanish teacher Jenifer Farrell explained This year’s sophomores have been participating in this program for approximately a that “It has been challenging that not 100 percent of the school is One-to-One,” as some year now, and teachers have had time to experiment with this technology and incorporate classes have multiple grade levels, and only it in their classes. Next year One-to-One may freshmen and sophomores bring computers.

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For those classes with mixed grades, teachers must take it into consideration when planning their lessons. Some teachers who have classes with multiple grade levels choose to never use laptops, since not all the students have them.

The One-to-One program was discussed at a recent staff meeting. During this discussion, teachers that he has had since 1999. Using Schoology has allowed him to let students and parents know about what is going on in his class more easily, and given him the chance to collect assignments electronically.

One thing that students dislike about Oneto-One, is how little laptops are actually used in classes. “I don’t like carrying around a five pound laptop, and using it maybe once a day,” explained Familetto. Laptops can weigh quite a bit, and students don’t particularly like carrying around all the extra weight. Some students find it easier to take notes on their computers rather than with a notebook and a pencil, but as Hashmi pointed out, “Many teachers don’t allow us to have our computers out in class to take notes.”

Although there are many negatives to this program, it has the potential to benefit the school. Monarch is ahead of the game, as it is the first school in BVSD to use this program. Monarch is setting the example for other schools in the district. Dr. Anderson said, “I think it’s good for us, I think its good for our students, and I hope that they are learning some things about organizing their information and researching information, and about the quality of research. I hope they’re learning to use some different software and programs and tools that they haven’t used before for learning. All these things are things that make me excited about doing it.”

ups and downs of march

by Joy Wineman Icons by Natalie Forman Hormone levels are WAY up in students this March as spring fever has officially set in. As a result, fidgeting, window gazing, and PDA are also experiencing drastic increases. Scientists have yet to pin down any physiological causes for this seasonal anomaly, but the effects are widely recognized.

Spring fever is currently being researched as an area of chronobiology which studies the relationship between a person’s mood, behavior, and internal clock; which unfortunately does not come with the ‘snooze’ feature.

Dark smoke signaling is down for the count this month as a new pope has been chosen. As is tradition, the cardinals sent a smoke signal from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at the end of each day they spent deliberating on a new pope. Dark smoke signified that a new pope had not been decided on, and white smoke signified that one had. On March 13, for the first time since the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28th, white smoke was released pronouncing that Bergoglio of Argentina will be the next pope. Inference shows that the Catholic Church has not yet embraced social media, as this could have been just as easily communicated with a status update.

Madness is raging this month as the annual NCAA basketball tournament celebrates its 75th anniversary. March Madness began on March 19th and will crown a victor on April 8th. The brackets are set and the bets are placed. Another noteworthy item is the new Adidas line of jerseys sported by a few of the teams, which is making quite a splash. The new jerseys are bright and coordinated. Most of them include not only a jersey, but a full outfit, complete with shorts, socks, and that new outfit attitude.

As of the 20th spring is officially in full swing. Vitamin D levels are up this month with the sun, thus sending bad attitudes packing. Vitamin D has been said to have anticancer properties as well as being useful in combating cardiovascular disease.However, the most prominent observed health benefit is the positive effect that Vitamin D has on mood. Happy people must truly be healthy people.

Men sporting mustaches have been on the rise recently. Annually, March is known to hipsters and high schoolers alike as “Molestache March” due to the creepy appearance of most of the staches.

Some would argue that it should be named “Crustache March” instead as most of the mustaches grown are actually no more than scattered scraggly hairs which just happen to have set up camp on a man’s upper lip.

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Fans jumping off the Bronco bandwagon are decreasing in numbers since the signing of Wes Welker as wide receiver. The Broncos also acquired Dominique Rodgers as cornerback. According to Sports Illustrated, Rodgers is a promising pick, but will need to prove himself. Welker, on the other hand, is a fan favorite. He is being received in Denver with open arms, and as long as the red-eyed Bronco eyeing the airport does not scare him off, it looks like he will bring a lot to the next season.

Founders of Social Studies Department Honored

By New Society

by Will Petersen

D

eann Bucher, World History teacher in Monarch’s Social Studies Department is organizing the National Social Studies Honor Society at Monarch, which Bucher said will “recognize ‘Honorary’ members or teachers of the community who have contributed to the area of Social Studies.”

There are students cooperating with Bucher to create this organization within the school as well, so that it will be an official organization by next Fall. This year, the NSSHS will be honoring two of the founding teachers for Monarchs’ Social Studies department “The purpose of the Honor Society is to promote the role of Social Studies in our community and daily lives,” said Junior Malachi Dray.

Dray is assisting Bucher in the creation of the first Social Studies Honor Society at Monarch.

Junior Josh Behrens stated that the NSSHS is “an opportunity for students to be a part of the community through the lense of Social Studies. It is an outlet for kids passionate about Social Studies to get involved.”

“As a school, we honor students in a variety of academic areas,” said Bucher. The NSSHS is new schools around the United States, as well as to Monarch this year, and Bucher is looking to honor people who have contributed to Social Studies at our school and throughout the community. “I am excited to help get a new organization going.” This year, the Honor Society at Monarch will be honoring two teachers who helped the Social Studies Department at Monarch when it first opened. “This chapter of Rho Kappa has been named the Sinn-Penfold- Buffo chapter in recognition of Paula Sinn-Penfold and Ron Buffo who were instrumental in opening Monarch High School.” said Bucher. Bucher also added, “Ms. Sinn-Penfold is now retired, and Mr. Buffo works part time at Centaurus High School helping students who are behind in their credits.” Bucher emphasized that with Sinn-Penfold and Buffo’s leadership at Monarch they “have become and remain a vibrant part of our school.” Teachers Keith Mainland, Andrew Buhse, and Bucher as well as Sinn-Penfold and Buffo all contributed to the start and beginning of Social Studies at Monarch.

Although the school recognizes students of high academic accomplishments, Dray as well as all other students taking part in the creation of this new club are looking to honor those who have contributed to social studies in the community as well as students with Social Studies related accomplishments.

Designing a Bright Future Monarch alum Anna Ewing finds success in textile art

by Natalie Forman

A

fter graduation, many alumni lose touch with the Monarch community. Some become doctors, lawyers, and teachers or pursue obscure professions. Monarch ’08 graduate, Anna Ewing, recently worked on textile designs that were featured in the Prabal Gurung Collection that hit Target stores in February. She shared her journey after leaving Monarch and explained how she managed to become a successful young artist.

Above is a picture of Ewing’s fabric design coming off of a Jacquard Loom. (Photo courtesy of Lucy Ewing)

Ewing went on to graduate from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) with a Bachelor in Fine Arts. She majored in Textiles and explained that Textiles is the art of fabric and “mainly consists of three categories: prints (the pattern you see put onto the cloth after it is made), knits (a thread structure which creates the fabric, made from one thread), and wovens (another thread structure which creates the fabric, made from two threads).”

After her junior year at RISD, Ewing participated in the European Honors Program and was able to study in Rome, Italy. When

member. It wasn’t until I was she came back she was hired as an intern for a junior in high school that I Isaac Mizrahi as well as SUNA, a small apparel company, and worked on print designs. Ewing narrowed down specifically what I wanted to do. I spent said, “Both were great experiences and truly the last two years of high helped me land my first job. After I finished my senior thesis and graduated from RISD, I held school trying to get into RISD, a short internship at LF USA, a New York based and was shocked when I ended up getting my acceptance private retailer for home and apparel goods, letter in the mail - I was so and was then hired to work in the print department at one of their subdivisions called Oxford thrilled!”

Often times parents are reCollections… I am still there, and it’s crazy to think that I have been at LF for almost a year! ” luctant to have their children Oxford Collections mainly works on wom- pursue art as it is considered en’s wear items to be sold at Target. Ewing a tough field to stand out in.

For Ewing, she was always explained, “One of our largest accounts is the able to count on having her Special Projects account, which teams up with family’s support. She said, higher-end designers to create limited edition collections at a lower cost to be sold every “My parents have completely supported my interest in few months at Target. The first collections my team was working on when I got here was the art, from my early years in Prabal Gurung Collection, which hit stores in school programs, through Ewing poses with the jacquard tapestry she created. (Photo courtesy of Lucy Ewing) the college application proFebruary.”

When asked about what she is working on cess, and beyond. My parents pen. “There are quite a lot of jobs out there now, Ewing said, “We can’t release the name were so proud of me going to for artists and designers, at a wide variety of RISD, and loved to visit on Parent’s Weekend, of the designer we are working with now until places from smaller studios to the largest corand see all of the creative it hits the press, but I will porations. You just have to explore what you things going on at that say that a great collection campus. I would never be are truly interested in and see what you can will be arriving to stores where I am today without do to help you get there. Internships are very come early September!” important in this field especially, and I would them, and try to let them While Ewing is happy know how much I appreci- recommend trying to get as much experience with how her artistic jouras you can before you are out in the real world ate them whenever I can.” ney has gone so far, she While family was key looking for work.” knows it is far from over.

Ewing was very complimentary of the Monto her success, Ewing Although she loves texarch art department, but she would love to also credits her success tiles, she hopes to explore to her Monarch art teach- see Monarch add to their program by taking other fields of art. “In ten on the AP Studio Art courses. She explained ers. She took art elective years, I would love to have courses at any free period that it is “one of the best ways for high school gone back to school to that she had. Ewing said, students to prepare college portfolios, and get a Master’s degree, “Connie McGinley and would be a nice way to group together serious either in the Fine Arts, or Claudia Overton especially artists at high school in a more academic setin teaching. With either were wonderful teachers ting than clubs or after school projects.” While degree I could teach at to me, and their classes often times art is considered the easy class or a public school, which is required for graduation, Ewing said, “Many were always my favorite is something I am exstudents are just as serious about art as any of the day.” In addition, tremely interested in doAnna took courses at the other course, and there should be courses ofing. I would love to teach This blouse uses Ewing’s design “Refracted fered at just the same high level as other core younger kids at an elemen- Orchid” for the Prabal Gurung collection done Colorado Academy of Art in at LF USA for the Target stores. (Photo courtesy Boulder so she would have subjects.” tary art level, and older ones of Lucy Ewing) With such passion and commitment to the a strong portfolio for colat the college level.” arts, Ewing has been able to find great success lege applications.

Ewing’s decision to purand is a great model for aspiring high school Misconceptions about the art industry are sue art after high school was no surprise to not new to Ewing. She assured me that while artists. her or her family. “I have always loved art, and it can be challenging, if students truly want to have wanted to pursue a career in some kind have a career in the arts, they can make it hapof art or design field for as long as I can re-

Across Borders: a journey to jordan Sophomore shares experience of life in Middle East

by Aleiya Evison

A

t the young age of five, sophomore Sam Mansour travelled from Colorado, across the Atlantic, and into the Eastern Hemisphere. “We moved to learn a different language and to experience another place and how they live,” he explained. With his mother and older sister, Mansour transitioned to life in Jordan, a Middle Eastern country which proved to be far different than the United States.

“I lived there for eight years, and I came back [to the U.S.] in the middle of eighth grade,” said Mansour. The move proved to be challenging, especially at such a young age.

“When I was a kid [the move to Jordan] was hard to overcome. I was used to the life over

here. Everything was easy,” Mansour said.

For Mansour, education was one of the biggest adjustments. “The [main] difference was the type of living, and the schools. The education there is way different. It’s an old fashioned way of teaching students. Here [teachers] use technology, and there [teachers] use old [teaching styles]. They don’t even really have computers,” he said.

Throughout Mansour’s stay he observed many other differences between the Middle East and the U.S. “Culturally [Jordan] is not free like here. You can’t do whatever you want there. There’s a certain type of culture, and the biggest part is the religion they follow. It’s way different. You have to follow the culture and the religion, too. If you don’t, you’re weird,”

Mansour said. Religion is a prevalent facet of Jordan’s culture, as 92% of the population follows the Muslim religion, according to cia.gov.

Mansour added, “What you wear and how you talk and how you act, that’s looked at a lot. If someone invites you over for dinner you have to act in a [certain] way.”

Beyond the cultural norms, Mansour also experienced some stereotyping in his new home. “[In Jordan] they think that every American is rich. When I went there they acted like I was a weird kid that was rich and spoiled.”

He explained, “I’m actually not rich and not all Americans are [wealthy].”

Despite the notable differences and conservative culture, Mansour expressed that he does not regret the experience. “I like to go

to different countries and experience how they live,” he explained. “[Plus now] I know how to speak Arabic fluently.”

Upon returning to the United States. Mansour has noticed that some people have taken his short stay in the Middle East as an opportunity to stereotype him, especially due to the political tension between the United States and Middle East. “I experience [stereotypes] when people talk about 9/11, but I don’t care because I know that I care about America, because I truly am an American.” He added, “It’s a complicated political situation between the U.S. and the Middle East, but I try not to care too much. I just care about getting my college degree and how I want to live my life.”

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Time to test your knowledge about Monarch! Answer the trivia questions below and prove that you are the best Monarch coyote. Fill out the answer sheet on the bottom right side of the page, then cut it out along the dotted lines and turn it into the box outside of room L205A by April 12th. The people with the most correct answers will win coupons from Chipotle. Students, faculty, and family are all welcome to play. Good luck!

Teachers have lives too 1.Mr. Leader’s name appears in the credits of which film starring Kevin Costner?

A. The Bodyguard B. American Flyers C. Field of Dreams 2. Monarch Math teacher Mr. Beamer was a professional juggler for how many years?

A. One

B. Fifteen

C. Eight

3. Monarch staffer ________, whose high school nickname was “Legs”, had a summer job at a pickle factory in college.

A. Mrs. Packard

B. Ms. Hook

C. Mr. Lowe 4. At age 13, Ms. Bucher was a model for which department store?

A. Bloomingdales

B. Foley’s

C. JC Penney

5. Which MoHi staff member worked as Geoffrey the Giraffe at a Toys-R-Us in college?

A. Mr. McCoy

B. Mrs. Donley

C. Dr. Anderson 6. Ms. Williams participated in which cultural event in Spain?

A. Running with bulls in Pamplona

B. A flamenco dancing contest in

Granada

C. The St. Sebastian Day festival in

San Sebastian 7. In 9th grade French class, Mrs. Lunz’ nickname was...

A. Jacque

B. Huguette

C. Celine

(Photo credit: Mia Mulvahill)

Monarch Matchup Use the word bank on the right to answer the following trivia questions. Write your answers on the matchup section of the answer sheet.

1. Video anouncements originally took place on what day of the week?

2. Which teacher started at Monarch as a part time Biology teacher and is currently a Monarch PE Teacher?

3. Which department consists of teachers who have all worked at Monarch since the opening year?

11. Where is the NHS information board located in the school?

12. Which graduating class had the quote: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson ?

13. Which graduating class had the quote: “We only live once, but once is enough if we do it right.” - Gary Blair ?

4. Who is the only assistant principal who has worked at Monarch every year since the school’s opening?

14. Which Monarch alum won America’s Next Top Model?

5. What is the most expensive item in the student store?

15. What was the first musical theater production at Monarch?

6. Which Monarch alum became a well known Christian singer?

16. What item in the student store costs two dollars?

7. Which department contains two teachers who attended Fairview High School at the same time?

17. Where in the school is the green room located?

8. In what year did high winds peel the roof off the Monarch gym?

18. What day of the week is reserved for staff meetings?

9. Which Monarch student holds the record for the most home runs in a career?

19. The field house at Centaurus High School is named after which previous Monarch Athletic Director?

10. The giant painting in dowstairs A hall was used in what school musical?

20. Which Monarch alum currently plays basketball for the New Orleans Hornets?

counting coyotes True or False?

13. Which MoHi teacher was the second female in the nation to be awarded and attend college on the Eisenhower - Evans Caddie Scholarship?

A. Mrs. Hein

B. Ms. Ellis

C. Mrs. Stahler

8. Which teacher competed in the “Knitting Olympics” by knitting an entire sweater during the fourteen days of the winter Olympics?

A. Ms. Newton

B. Mrs. Farrell

C. Mrs. Davidoff

14. What pet did Mrs. Gerrish have that believed it was a dog, even though it clearly was not?

A. Chicken

B. Tortoise

C. Rabbit

9. Ms. Stanley trained with which all-men’s sports team while studying abroad in Germany?

A. The rugby team

B. The handball team

C. The cycling team

15. Which staff member used to babysit for a famous Chicago mafia lord?

A. Doc

B. Mr. Farrell

C. Mrs. Armijo

10. This teacher served in Morocco for three years as a Peace Corps volunteer.

A. Senora Rivera

B. Ms. Grace

C. Ms. Rosenwinkle

18. _________ worked with juvenile offenders on a wagon train and lived in a teepee before joining the Monarch staff.

A. Mrs. Bravo

B. Ms. Benisch

C. Mrs. Cawlfield 19. Mrs. Overton was born four blocks away from which popular tourist attraction?

A. Disneyland

B. The Bay Bridge

C. The Bronx Zoo 20. As a child, Ms. Katzive once had her dress eaten by which animal?

A. A goat

B. A cow

C. A chihuahua

16. This staff member worked at one of the largest Convents on the East Coast, the Sisters of St. Francis Convent.

A. Mr. Borus

B. Mr. Thomas

C. Mr. DiCarlo

11. Mr. Clark performed as a ______ in Kansas City.

A. Soloist for an a capella group

B. Backup dancer for a local singer

C. Clown in a mime troupe

17. Ms. Rivette held which job before becoming a teacher?

A. Pinball mechanic

B. Shoe shiner

C. Dance teacher

12. In high school, Ms. Prassa was a...

A. Cheerleader

B. Mathlete

C. Stamp-collecting enthusiast

Louis

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Amun dson y le ib S Mark Upstairs 4 B 200

Reusable Water Bottle 2001

Cinde

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Fox

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By the Library

The following questions can all be answered with a number. Fill in the correct response in the section of the answer sheet called counting coyotes.

1. Doc is the _____ theater teacher.

1. Monarch’s first Librarian was also Mr. Lowe’s fifth grade librarian.

2. Monarch was named after the Monarch butterfly.

3. Mr. Sibley used to be a business teacher.

2. How many students in Monarch history have received a perfect SAT score?

4. There is a tunnel that connects the K8 and the high school.

3. There have been ________ teachers who have completed the Ironman triathlon.

5. Monarch has had the same registrar for every year since the school opened.

4. What is the number of MoHi alumni sweethearts who married in summer 2012?

6. The current Monarch Poms team won the state competition for their jazz routine.

5. How many current teachers have been at Monarch since the inaugural year?

6. Which year was there a kindergarten class in room B102?

10. Monarch offers _________ AP courses.

7. The forum and library windows are parabolic.

11. How many state championships has the cross country team won?

8. There are fewer than 40 eighth graders enrolled at Monarch.

12. Monarch has had ________ principals.

9. The junior class is the largest class at Monarch.

7. Monarch football has won _______ state championships.

13. How many elevators are in the school?

8. How many vice principals have there been at Monarch?

14. How many married couples work at Monarch?

Trivia questions compiled by Mia Mulvahill, Natalie Forman, and Katie Ciaglo. Special thanks to the faculty who contributed information.

9. How many students are a part of Monarch Indoor Percussion?

15. There have been _______ students who have accepted the Boettcher Scholarship.

Icons by Natalie Forman

10. No Monarch student has ever received a perfect ACT score.

Answer Key:

Fill in all your answers in the corresponding sections below, and fill out your contact information so we can distribute prizes to the winners. Cut along the dotted lines and turn your answers into the box outside of room L205A. The due date for all submissions is April 12th. After the 12th the correct answers will be posted on The Howler website, mhshowler.com. Thank you for participating!

Name ________________________________ Phone number ________________________________ Email ________________________________ Teacher Multiple Choice

Monarch Matchup

1.

11.

1.

11.

2.

12.

2.

12.

3.

13.

3.

13.

4.

14.

4.

14.

5.

15.

5.

15.

Counting Coyotes 1.

True or False 1.

2.

3.

4.

2.

3.

5.

6.

4.

7.

5.

8.

6.

16.

6.

16.

7.

17.

7.

17.

9.

6.

10.

7.

11.

8.

18.

8.

18.

9.

19.

9.

19.

12.

13.

14.

10.

20.

10.

20.

8.

15.

9.

10.

artsANDentertainment PROM HAIR HOW-TO

PROM MAKEUP

by Katie Berohn

Does the thought of doing your own makeup for prom freak you out? It may sound scary to put your own makeup on for prom, but it’s really not that big of a deal! If you always poke yourself in the eye when you’re trying to put on eyeliner, follow these simple instructions to create a flawless smoky eye that will wow your prom date... and keep your eyes stab free.

by Olivia Coleman With prom just around the corner, many girls tend to stress out about what to wear. Do you have the perfect prom dress but can’t figure out what to do with your hair? Follow this tutorial for the perfect simple prom style.

STEP 1:

Make sure your face is clean and dry.

Apply eyeshadow primer all over your eyelids and underneath the eye. The primer will set your makeup and make sure it looks fresh all night, no matter how much you dance.

Step 1:

Start with freshly washed hair. Use a blow dryer until your hair is completely dry. Once your hair is dry, straighten it completely. You may also choose to curl it instead for a different look.

STEP 2:

Apply a gold eyeshadow all over your lid, stopping at the crease. To avoid fallout, tap the brush before you put it on your eyelid.

STEP 3:

Step 2:

Blend a warm brown eyeshadow into your crease. If you have a blending brush, swipe it in a windshield wiper motion to make sure the gold and brown colors blend seamlessly.

Starting on one side of your head, start french braiding towards the bottom of your head. To get this braid to look like a “crown” when you’re french braiding it, only grab a new section of hair with the bottom section. Once this side is done, tie it off.

STEP 4:

Draw a thin line across the top of your eyelid with a black pencil eyeliner.

Then apply the same pencil across your waterline at the bottom of your eye.

Step 3:

Start on the other side of your head and do the same exact braid. Once this side is done, tie it off as well.

Gather both braids and the remaining hair into a low ponytail below one of your ears.

STEP 5:

Apply a dark brown eyeshadow in the outer corner of your eyelid, blending into the other colors. Then apply the same dark brown under your eye, connecting to the top. This will create the smoky look.

Step 4:

Take a small section of hair from the ponytail and wrap it around the ponytail holder, then pin it with a bobby pin.

Once that’s done, use a little hairspray to hold the braids into place.

All photos were taken of Katie Berohn by Olivia Coleman.

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STEP 6:

Put a shimmery white highlight in the inner corners of your eye and along the browbown to highlight your face.

Apply mascara on your top and bottom lashline, and you’re ready to go to prom!

All photos were taken of Mia Mulvahill by Katie Berohn.

Lights! camera! prom! WHO’S WEARING Counting down the best prom scenes in Cinema WHAT?

by Dalton Valette and Grace Tallmon

Prom dress trends of 2013 are revealed

The time has come once again for all those juniors and seniors (and a few lucky freshmen and sophomores) to gather together in a closed off building, sweating over each other and rubbing their bodies close while wearing formal wear. Everyone talks about prom and whether you love it or hate it, it’s a popular topic. And this dance, swirled around with teen angst, hormones, gossip, drama, love, and heartbreak, is a target for Hollywood inspiration. Here are some of the more memorable prom scenes in movies.

by Ellie Oliver

Back to the Future- 1985 Everyone has been in that awkward situation where they’re trying to get two people together. However, no one has been in a more dire situation than Marty McFly, who time travels to 1955 and has to set up his teenaged parents together at their prom, or else he and his siblings won’t exist. The first of a great trilogy (excluding Back to the Future 2 that is) the first one is all about prom and the ripple effects a single dance can have on the lives of so many people. With great laughs and suspense (and of course awkward mom-wantingto-date-future-son situations that are a must), Back to the Future is by far the best time traveling themed prom movie out there.

Carrie- 1976 Perhaps the most memorable Prom massacres in cinema history, the Brian DePalma adaption of the Stephen King novel has inspired numerous jokes and jabs because of its sheer shock factor. In the movie, Carrie White (Sissy Spacek in an Oscar-nominated performance) is a quiet, homely girl who is constantly bullied but secretly possess telekinetic powers. She is able to control these powers until a bloody prank (as a joke, a gallon of pig’s blood is poured on top of her as she is awarded Prom Queen) goes unexpectedly South and chaos ensues as the quiet wallflower uses her powers to burn down the school and kill off all her tormentors. One of the best Stephen King adaptations, being remade this October with Chloe Grace-Mortez as the lead, the final scenes are now synonymous with a bloody good dance. A young wide eyed girl with blood drenching her brand new, over the top prom dress has become an iconic image in the film world. All prom enthusiasts (and haters) should love this horror classic.

Grease- 1978 Prom has changed in so many ways over the years, but perhaps the greatest changes were in the way we dance and what we dance to. In Grease, everyone dances in unison with feet playfully tapping the ground and hips lively flashing in the air that swing side to side. More upbeat jazz styled music is played while nowadays it is mostly electronic and dubstep, with the base blaring in one’s eardrums. In Grease one can see some of the people singing along with the song, even if there are no words at all! And with changes in music and dance, the spacing to dance changes as well. Acres of floor space is available to those hip swinging dancers of the 1950’s while today we’re lucky to get extensive elbow movement. At prom now, it’s more like a bobbing, grinding mosh pit. Grease, the glory days of prom and dance.

Mean Girls- 2004

It’s the one night out of the entire year that the girls are going to remember. For hours upon hours they will be getting their hair, nails and makeup done to perfection.

But one of the most important parts of getting ready for the big night might be finding the perfect dress.

We took a poll on what dress style will be the most popular at Prom this year.

Arguably one of the most quotable movies of the last decade is Mean Girls. Of all these movies, this one overall best describes high school as it really is and brings to light the unbelievable and extraordinary lengths girls (and boys) will go to to be “loved.” The prom scene at the end of the film may not be one of the most memorable scenes in film, but as the red haired math nerd Kady takes the stage as the new Prom Queen, she realizes it’s just a crown, nothing more. And everyone (even the boys) can be a queen on that day.

Prom Night- 2008 The lights, the dresses, the dancing, (in this case the booze), and…a deranged former teacher stalking a young teenager (Brittany Snow) and her BBFs on their senior prom night. All those are the essentials for a good prom, right? Prom Night, despite being an overall terrible horror movie with a predictable ending and cheesy acting, it is a top prom movie because of two reasons. One, the whole movie is centered about the actual prom dance and the majority of the film takes places in the Prom venue. (But seriously, how was this high school able to book a whole hotel the equivalent of a Hilton without going broke?)

And two, this is what Prom is actually like today, minus the stalker-murdering ex teacher.

Screams fill the air but the music from the DJ and the snarky teenage girl gossip vanquish them. Loud, wild, at times chaotic, and full of dancing, Prom Night does what it was meant to do, scare the crap out of teenagers looking for a good time.

Prom has always been a part of the high school experience, no matter if one hates or loves it. Time and energy is put into the grand dance that has evolved with the times for better and worse. The dancing, the venues, the music, they’ve all changed but no matter what, prom will always be there, in reality and in the movies. Bloody massacres, time traveling, epiphanies, and a whole lot of hair gel make prom...well, prom. At least in the movies.

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F R A T C A T

by Jack Howard

MARCH 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.

Aries: (March 21-April 19) Your athletic abilities will skyrocket this month, Aries. Last month you could only do six pushups? Well, this month you’ll average roughly 718 pushups a day! You will be jumping higher, running faster, and shooting/ passing/kicking/swimming/dancing better than ever.

Taurus: (April 20-May 20) In April, your creative juices will gush, Taurus. Creating and inventing will overtake your life for those 30 days, and you will be lovin’ it! Try finding a new outlet for your creativity this month, such as underwater basket weaving or interpretive miming.

Gemini: (May 21-June 20) As April jauntily rounds the corner, your vocabulary will aggrandize inexplicably. Delight in arousing your friends’ intellects this month, because, grievously, the improvement is only ephemeral.

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Cancer: (June 21-July 22) This month, you will find yourself oddly addicted. Not to alcohol or to illegal substances, but to much stranger things. Some may be unable to stop themselves from buying high heels that are two sizes too big, while others may find themselves constantly playing the violin. Whatever your addiction, it will be unbreakable until the end of the month. Sorry Cancer.

Leo: (July 23-August 22) This month you will be the definition of an April Fool. You will find your sense of humor incredibly strong, and rather immature, for the next thirty days.

Better stock up on whoopee cushions, silly string and the jars of peanut brittle where snakes jump out, Leo.

Virgo: (August 23-September 22) Virgos worldwide this month will be incredibly sloth-like. Fur will sprout in strange places, you will grow long claws and the mere act of getting out of bed in the morning will take ages.

Libra: (September 23 -October 22) Happy prom month! This month, whether you’ve already found your prom date, or have no intention of going near the dance, you will be asked by the person of your dreams, no matter how farfetched.

If you want to go to prom with Ryan Gosling, then you go girl!

Scorpio:(October 23-November 21) Prepare for extreme nostalgia as April approaches.

Whether you are a senior about to head off for a college, or a freshman staying at MoHi next year, even the word “coyote” will bring tears to your eyes.

Sagittarius:(November 22-December 21) This month will be like a real-life Transformers movie for you, Sagittarius.

Technology will be turning on you left and right. Your blender will spurt your smoothies sky high, and your iPod will incessantly and exclusively play Kidz Bop. Buckle up, it’s gonna be a long month!

Capricorn:(December 22-January 19) This month you will be overcome by an insatiable craving for the classic Disney movies that filled your childhood. One movie a day should satisfy you, but just to be prepared, you should have four on hand at all times.

Aquarius: (January 20-February 18) This month you will confess your love... for everything! The love moon is especially close to earth this month, and you will be absolutely infatuated with almost all things you encounter. Shout from the rooftops your love for things from bananas to your long-term girlfriend.

Pisces: (February 19-March 20) .yclamron ot nruter noos lliw nrutaS sa htnom eno tsal ylno lliw siht ,ylikcuL .sdrawkcab sehtolc ruoy no tup dna klaw ,etirw ,daer lliw uoy ,tibro sti sesrever nrutaS sa htnom sihT .sdrawkcab ekil erom ,nwod edispu yllautca ton ,lleW .htnom siht nwod edispu denrut eb lliw efil ruoY (Try reading it backwards.)

Sports How to Play Sports in College: Tips from the top Athletes share their top three tips on the college recruitment process

by David Andrews

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very year millions of high school athletes step out onto the field of competition. Every year these same athletes will share the dream of playing their respective sports in college. It seems like a lofty goal; according the NCAA only 2% of high school athletes will play competitively in college, at any level. Despite these daunting numbers seven athletes from Monarch (so far) will be playing college sports in Fall 2013. It’s an impressive accomplishment to become part of the 2% of athletes that go on to play in college, but the question therein lies, “How did these athletes end up here?” and more importantly, “As an aspiring college athlete, how do I get there myself?”

1. It’s different for everyone: “Depending on the type of school you want to go to and the types of schools that are interested

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Be active: “For me, my dad put together a highlight tape of me and we sent it out

2.Don’t be afraid to contact schools: “A lot of people think that the schools will just come and contact you, but in reality, most people that end

2.Be realistic with your future: “You have to be realistic in choosing a college because you’re probably not going to

to a bunch of different colleges. We got responses from Montana and Portland from that video. A lot of people assume that recruiters will find you when you have to go find them.”

in you, that varied a lot for me. I was getting a lot of offers from D-III schools, and just financially those types of schools wouldn’t work for me. I wanted to go D-I, so that changed my perspective on the whole process.

up going onto college athletics put themselves out there first.

I contacted ten schools by email with a letter attached that had all my times and ACT scores. I put links to my NCAA eligibility report, links to unofficial transcripts. It’s a good way to make preliminary contact with schools.

3. Be picky: “College is four years of your life, a really important period of your life too. Athletics are so person-

Taylor Floming Senior Destination: Montana State

Ben Beauchamp Junior Destination: Undecided

3.It’s your decision:

“My parents have been really supportive of me throughout the process. They ask me all the time if I’m doing it because they want me to or because I love it, and the answer is always that I love it. I know I’m going to go to a school that I want to go to for myself and not for them. You’re responsible for the decision you make, so make a good one.”

ally demanding. If you don’t have a good coach or teammates you’re not going to enjoy your time there. With athletics you’re spending more than half your time with your teammates and they need to be people you would enjoy doing that with.”

Jamie Falloon senior Destination: Northern Colorado

Austin Beswick Senior Destination: coLorado Mesa University

1. Camps:

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Love the sport to death: “High school is nothing compared to the next level.

“I started going to camps after my junior season. There are some big names out there that college recruiters look to to find out who the best kids are.

I’ve been to a couple of camps, starting after my junior year season. I travelled to Vegas, I went to Wisconsin, and also went to one in Fort Collins. I competed really well at those, so that really helped my ranking.

There’s a lot more commitment, you have to be strong not just physically, but mentally as well.

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Camps: “Camps were a huge way for me to expose myself to coaches. After Coach Bravo told me that he

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Commit to your dream: “You have to work for it if you really want it. It’s going to be

thought I could play at the next level, I really wanted to get out there and show myself to coaches. Last summer I went to eight college football camps on top of Coach Bravo’s camp.

a huge commitment and you need to be sure this is what you want to do. At first I was just applying to schools but then I realized I wanted to play football no matter what and I broadened my search a little bit and found the school I’m going to in the fall, UNC.”

3.

Focus on the education: “I visited a lot of schools and little things stuck out to me at each one, whether it was a nice coach or a nice field or whatever. When I went to Mesa I really liked it and it’s just far away enough from home but still in Colorado. Of course, the football program is great but I made the decision based on the academic element as well because, if we’re being honest, I want to get out of college and be able to get a job right out of college. I don’t see myself playing professionally.”

be playing basketball your whole career. Colorado College is somewhere I’m interested in because it’s really good academically and I can play basketball there. You want to be coming out of college and be able to get an internship or job right away.”

3.

Be proactive: “You have to be really special for a college coach to go out of their way Scan to go to mhshowler.com and read what Athletic Director Lani Nobles had to say about the recruitment process and what pitfalls prospective athletes have to avoid.

and come to you. You could be the best player in Colorado, but it’s just Colorado. You really have to want it and pursue it because no one’s going to come and 13 give it to you.

Snapshot: Shot Put

Junior Brad Grieser breaks down his technique

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by David Andrews

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en grunting and throwing stones as far as they can, shot putting may look a little barbaric. In fact, shot putting dates back almost 2000 years to the Scottish Highlands. It is a sport of nuanced aggression. Even soldiers during the Middle Ages competed with one another to see who could throw cannonballs farther. Junior Brad Grieser has taken up the sport as a way to stay in shape for football, which he will be playing in the fall, and it gives him a way to stay busy. This season will be Grieser’s second throwing and he will compete in both the shot put and discus throw. Grieser admits that he is not part of the upper echelon of high school talent. Compared to other shot putters Grieser’s distances don’t quite match up, but this seasone he will be competing against himself to better his scores. Here, Grieser takes us through his technique, which he has honed under the tutelage of former professional and coach Jared Potts.

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“I’m pretty much getting ready here, bringing all my weight back on my right leg. I am balancing all my weight on my back leg”

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“Bringing your right leg back is important, it sets you up to glide across the ring.”

“Push the left leg back so the right leg will glide across the ring.”

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“Here I’m about to glide across the ring. My right foot is staying just above the ground. We have special shoes with no grip on the bottom so they will slide easily over the cement.”

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“Plant the left foot right at the base of the ring. It’s a violation if you touch the top of the white barrier, but you can have it touch just the edge of it. The closer you get just means the less distance you have to throw into the ring.”

“Before you release you want to bring your hips through and power all the momentum through the ball. Follow through and get the ball as far as you can.”

Girls’ Tennis: Season Preview

Baseball: Season Preview

by Bridget Anthony

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No. 2 singles player Emma Scott steps into a backhand in her match on Thursday, March 14th against Evergreen. Scott won her match 6-0 6-1. Monarch triumphed in the dual winning 4 of 7 total matches. (Photo credit: Dominic Yang)

by Bridget Anthony

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he Girls’ Tennis squad has already braved the wind, snow, and rain just to get out on the court and improve on their skills. Who knows what will come next for Girl’s Tennis this season? The athletes are hoping that their hard work and dedication will get them each a spot in the state tournament.

“Ever since I have played we have made state and each year we have made it further in the state tournament. This year we will hopefully make it to state again and so that is the goal,” said senior Darlene Wen. This season’s team is much different from year’s last due to graduated seniors and players unable to participate this year, but luckily, there are many girls who are able to step up and compete at a new level. “We have four girls that graduated or are not playing this year and it will affect us because we have a lot of girls playing varsity who played junior varsity last year and it is just a different dynamic.

I think it will just be a little bit of a transition,” said senior Julia Gallant.

Girls’ Tennis is a highly competitive team with a grueling schedule due to long days of

tournaments, but they find a way to make it fun for everyone. “This year we have Team Bonding Tuesdays and so we just hang out at someone’s house after practice or at a restaurant,” said Wen. Gallant also said that as a team they meet at a bagel shop the morning of every tournament. This team is a group of close knit girls who genuinely enjoy the sport they play and company of their teammates.

In addition to the relationship from player to player, Wen shared that they have the best coach, Christopher Turner, who is really easy to get along with. In fact, she said she is most excited this season to hang out with Coach Turner, and her favorite parts of the season are the tournaments because she gets to spend so much time with her team.

These girls know what their goals are and they are going attempt to take advantage of this season to reach those and fill their hopes for this year. When asked what she is most excited for, Gallant concluded, “We have a lot of new players this year, so just seeing how everyone works together as a team.”

The Girls’ Tennis team has their next home match against Fairview on April 11th.

now flakes fall one by one, settling onto the frozen infield grass. The players squeeze their fists together to maintain whatever bit of warmth they can on this frigid March day. “Whatever team deals with the elements the best, will win the game,” shouts varsity baseball coach Scott Weiss.

Preparation has been the key for Monarch’s baseball program since Weiss took over as coach before last season. They primarily run only three different drills in practice, over and over each day until the players perfect each function.

The preparation in this particular practice will turn out to be crucial for the team. In their season opener on March 16th, the Coyotes handily beat Liberty High School 11-0 in chilly 45-degree weather.

As winter sports come to a close, it becomes time for spring sports, such as baseball, to take over. While Mother Nature has not been welcoming of the spring sports season the players and coaches all have high expectations for the season. “My expectations are for the players to each achieve individual success that contributes to the team success. We have a motto to compete every game, every inning, every out, every pitch. If we are able to come together as a team and compete as a team, the wins will take care of themselves,” said Weiss.

This is Weiss’ second year as head coach and he is thrilled to see how his group of athletes this season comes together in order to win games. “This year the returning players have played a year for me and know more what to expect and how we prepare to compete in games,” said Weiss.

As far as the loss of graduated seniors goes, there are plenty of players who can get the job done. Senior captain Levi Ensign said, “We have a lot of good talent this year. We have a lot of young guys who are going to help. We will definitely be in the playoffs and I think we will go further than we did last year. Everyone wants to go further. I am not worried about the players we lost, we have guys to fill those positions.” Sophomore Logan Soole seconds that, “We lost a couple that were good, but I think we gained a couple people; A few freshmen and we have a lot of people that can step up.”

Due to the unpredictable Colorado weather, the players have had very limited time to get out on the field and practice their sport. Weiss said, “Well, given all of the snow we have had the first three weeks of Spring season, I have to admit I am most excited for some sunshine and getting the team outside every day!!! Our season kicks off [March 16th] and I really look forward to the excitement of opening day and watching all of the hard work our players put into the off-season turn into personal and team success this year. These guys deserve to be successful this year.”

While their coach is looking forward to some warmth, Ensign and Soole just want games to start. “I am just excited to get the season started and see how everybody plays together, see the team chemistry,” said Soole.

In addition to the season starting here in Colorado, the team is traveling to Arizona to play a few games and then watch some professional Spring Training games. This is a great experience for them because they get to

Sophomore 2B Kyle Scholtz throws around the horn after the team recorded an out against Liberty on March 16th at Monarch High School. The Coyotes won the game by a score of 11-0. (Photo credit: Bridget Anthony)

really hang out together and bond as a team.

They are also starting team dinners before games this year.

“Success comes from hard work, preparation, and fun. We work hard at practice to be better prepared than our opponent.

If our team is able to take the execution and discipline from practice to execute during the game, we will find ourselves successful. I also believe success comes from players just having fun. If they are enjoying the game and look forward to the competition, then they are going to work harder to achieve success,” said Weiss. According to the players and coach, this season will prove to be a great one for the team. Ensign concluded, “I would like to help lead the team to a state cham15 pionship.”

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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 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.

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