Eagle Eye Issue 2, November 28, 1016 by Mark Newton

EAGLEEYE Sam Strauss, adjusting to change Presidential Election Violetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gun Band Fall Sports Season Recaps

CHANGE

Vol. 16 Issue 2 11.28.16 Mountain Vista High School | 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

1 THE MOUNTAIN VISTA WOMEN’S VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY TEAM raced at—and won— Nike Cross Regionals Southwest in Arizona on Friday,Nov. 18. “We worked really hard as a team this season, it’s cool to have all the hard work pay off, with us acomplishing our goals we set this season,” said sophomore Julia Chambers. The team will compete at Nike Cross Nationals in Oregon on Dec. 3. From left to right: freshman Sarah O’Sullivan, freshman Jenna Ftizsimmons, senior Madison Easton, sophomore Zoe Simmons, senior Mauren Fitzsimmons, sophomore Caroline Eck and sophomore Julia Chambers. Photo Courtesy of Eric Selle

1 A CAREER A PAYCHECK A COLLEGE DEGREE (CHOOSE THREE)

Don’t limit your life to the ordinary. Candidates accepted in the U.S. Air Force are automatically enrolled in the Community College of the Air Force free of cost. Not to mention the hands-on training you’ll receive that gives you invaluable experience. With the Air Force, your future is limitless.

For the most up-todate news check out our website. vistanow.org

vista_now

2 vista_now

@vista_now

issue 2 4 change Students encounter different forms of change in their lives

sam strauss Strauss was in a severe car

accident, that changed his life in both a positive and negative way

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megan bernini Bernini reflects on how the lead role in the school play has changed her

eric cook

local 26 student life Cindy Galligan’s last day at Vista,

gabe barnard conner davis savanah howard haley kolseth lauren lippert tyler merchant

a student changed by therapy dogs and an inside look at the experience of a foreign exchange student

staff

fall All things fall—recipes, fashion,

claire beckman jett crowson leah deminski keaton deppey arianna dimercurio julia driggs jarom edwards caitlin english ian ferguson emma friesen charlie fu lauren gano keyahn golgoon katy harris addisyn hartman lauren irwin

Halloween trends and more

fall photos

The best photos of the fall season

Cook becomes a drummer in a local band called Violet’s Gun

news 12 political

opinion

Thoughts on band being a sport, why the Cubs hadn’t won a World Series, disarmament week and a letter to the editor

seniors Inside look on where students epic photos

The best photos from fall sports, clubs and more

school news 20 sports

contact

faces of vista Two students are changed by

distribution

Single copies are free. Where available, additional copies of this paper are eligible for purchase for 50 cents each. Contact the Eagle Eye editors for more information. Taking more than one copy of this paper is prohibited (C.R.S. 18-4-419). Violators, subject to penalty, will be prosectued.

breast cancer

The Eagle Eye welcomes and encourages letters to the editors. This is a chance to express your viewpoint on important issues. Letters should be limited to 250 words. Letters will be edited for space and legal considerations, but not for inaccuracies, grammar or spelling. Letters must contain information pertinent to the students of MVHS. The staff retains the right to not publish any letter not meeting these requirements. Unsigned letters will not be published. Please submit typed letters in person to room U328 or via mail or email.

Eagle Eye | Mountain Vista High School 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 Phone : 303.387.1500 Adviser: Mark Newton — mark.newton@dcsdk12.org Editors — eagleeyeeditors@gmail.com

Stats of softball, football, band, cross country, soccer and tennis seasons

policy

letters to the editors

plan on attending college and why and student submitted writing

emily kinney greyson koinzan morgan maclean matisse molina morgan nichols michael place lexi riga david robinson andie srdoc drew stahl claire vandestouwe erica venable ben yoshida shayan zarrin

Eagle Eye, a legally recognized public forum for student expression, is published six times a year by the student journalism class at Mountain Vista High School. Expression made by students in the exercise of freedom of speech or freedom of press is not an expression of Douglas County school board policy. The views expressed in Eagle Eye do not necessarily represent the views of the entire staff, adviser, MVHS administration or the Douglas County School District administration. Board policy regarding student publications (JICEA and JI/JIA) are available in the publications room (U328) or the principal’s office.

A brief inside look at the new President of the United States and who Vista voted for

editors

mikayla olave charlie penvari staci prevato gannon rushall austin sack alexandrea weingardt

clubs Stories about Trick or Treat Street, the new Mock Trial sponsor, Tri-M and rock climbing

open forum content

change BY AUSTIN SACK

For some, change can be seen as something to be scared of. Although some may be fearful of the thought of transition, we as people are constantly changing. Our nation, our state, our community, embraces challenges with open arms. We look change straight in the eye and never back down. Inside this issue, readers will see multiple students perspective of how they have embraced change.

SAM

EIGHT WEEKS AGO, SENIOR SAM STRAUSS was hit by a drunk driver on his way home from a football game. After regaining consciousness, he found he had broken ribs, a broken sternum, bruised lower lungs and head trauma. Prepared for a nine-to-18-month recovery, Strauss participated in physical therapy as well as other therapy that helped his brain with memory techniques and learning strategies. Meanwhile, his close friends organized fundraisers at school to gather money for Samâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical bills. With the encouragement from his close friends, family, and school, Strauss shortened his recovery to one month.

MEGAN

SENIOR MEGAN BERNINI has gone from a small-role actor filled with stage fright to one who holds the lead role in the school play and has left her fears behind. She recently held the role of Tracy Lord in “The Philadelphia Story.” Through the support of her co-stars, friends and directors, she grew into her role and embraced the fear of being on stage. This support has allowed her to go on to bigger performances participating in the Thespian Conference and Shakespeare Festival in 2015.

ERIC

SENIOR ERIC COOK has been drumming since his freshman year. When he heard that senior Jack McCombs was searching for talented members to join his band Violet’s Gun, he responded by constantly bragging about his drumming abilities to the three band members until they had no other choice but to allow him to audition. The creativity, precision, accuracy, ingenuity, passion and emotion behind Cook’s drumming immediately earned him the role of Violet’s Gun’s drummer and backup vocalist.

sam strong STORY BY GABE BARNARD AND AUSTIN SACK PHOTOS BY SAM STRAUSS AND THOMAS JOHNSON

Students show their support for Strauss by writing the letter “S” on their hands during the homecoming football game against Regis Jesuit High School.

magine hopping into your car late at night after attending a Valor football game, plugging in your aux cord and turning up the volume. You begin to turn. You’re just trying to go home, but all of a sudden everything goes black and you wake up in the hospital the next day, surrounded by your family. You have broken ribs, a broken sternum, bruised lower lungs and severe head trauma. For senior Sam Strauss, this nightmare became reality. Strauss was struck by a drunk driver on the night of Sept. 23, one week before Homecoming. He woke up in a hospital with his injuries and a big recovery ahead of him. Many think that getting in a serious accident will never happen to them, but according to the National Highway Traffic Administration, “every two minutes, a person is injured in a drunk driving crash.” Those two minutes changed Strauss’s perspective of the life he used to know - forever. “Life is too short. You’ve got to make the most of it before something crazy or bad happens to you,” Strauss said. “You have no idea what will happen at any moment.” Strauss is only a 17-years-old and has already experienced a life-altering event before a majority of his peers. “My life has changed a lot especially with the fact that I need to sleep a lot, I can’t drive, and found that a lot of people care for me that I didn’t know about,” Strauss said. “It has changed because I need a lot of rest to heal, and my car got wrecked, [but] I don’t think I am 100% ready to drive anyway.” After an event like Strauss experienced, he could have been permanently injured, but has gotten away without any long-lasting injuries. “My daily routine includes getting a ton of sleep to help me recover faster, working out to improve mood and strength and hanging with friends to have more social interactions,” Strauss said. Doctors predicted Strauss’s recovery would fall between nine and 18 months with severe head trauma. One month later, Strauss is near the end of his recuperation and back at school. The biggest factor in his

speedy recovery was the support he received from the school, his family and friends. One of his closest friends, senior Thomas Johnson, designed and sold wristbands during Homecoming week with the words “Sam Strong” on them to raise money for his medical costs. “When I found out that Sam was hurt I thought I was going to lose one of my closest friends and I was really worried,” Johnson said. “I knew the medical bills were going to be high and [I wanted Sam’s family to know] that our community has their back.” Students from school also created and signed a get-well poster for Strauss, donated money during miracle minutes and took to social media to show support for the Strauss family. “Without the support I wouldn’t have recovered as fast as I did,” Strauss said. “Then finding out my close friends were doing all those things during Homecoming week for me was just mind blowing, and the amount of support it got was even more crazy. I love Vista.” The severity of the accident can be disturbing, but Strauss is more focused on the future and his recovery rather than reminiscing on the past. “I slowly got back into things for school, so I didn’t get overwhelmed,” Strauss said. “I got the work for 3 of my classes and [partly] returned to school on Nov.14.” Part of his future is the uncertainty of driving again, but Strauss has no hesitations about getting back behind the wheel after his life took the turn it did. “I do want to drive again. It sounds a bit crazy, but I like driving and I feel more comfortable to since the accident wasn’t my fault,” Strauss said, “Car accidents happen a lot and you gotta realize that if you aren’t responsible with [drinking] and then go drive you can put others in serious danger.” Now that Strauss has recovered from the accident, he has had the chance to reflect on its impact on his life. “I was happy I was alive, because the accident was super crazy and I heard how lucky I am to not be crippled or dead. I am grateful,” Strauss said.

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Strauss regained consciousness in the hospital with broken ribs, a broken sternum, bruised lower lungs and head trauma.

During homecoming week, the senior man poms show their support during the end of their routine by revealing “Sam Strong” written on their backs.

Doctors predicted Strauss’ recovery would last nine to 18 months but he recovered in one.

“Life is too short. You gotta make the most of it before something crazy or bad happens to you,” Strauss said

In order to raise money for Strauss’ family, bracelets were sold at both lunches.

stage flight vs. stag STORY BY: MORGAN NICHOLS AND GREYSON KOINZAN PHOTOS BY: LEAH DEMINSKI, MORGAN MACLEAN, AND COURTESY OF MEGAN BERNINI

here is an inevitable anxiety that accompanies standing in front of an audience, subjecting yourself to its members’ critiques and judgments. Courage and confidence are required to allow peers, family and friends to pick apart every move, every word that you say, all while attempting to embody a character other than yourself. Senior Megan Bernini was presented with the challenge of portraying Tracy Lord, a confident and flirtatious woman, as the lead role in the play, “The Philadelphia Story.” However, the confidence that allowed Bernini to dive into her most recent character didn’t always exist. “I was very nervous and unsure of myself. My legs were shaky and my stomach hurt the whole time,” Bernini said, describing her experience with stage fright. These nerves existed just a couple of years ago when she auditioned for her first high school play. “It’s scary to get onstage in front of a crowd of people and act, especially when you’re just a kid,” Bernini said. It was clear to her as she became more interested and invested in theatre that the severe nerves she faced would need to be contained before she could realize her full potential as an actress. Now, as an integral part of the Mountain Vista High School drama community, it is clear Bernini represents a champion of fear and a role model for change. For her, anxiety was not viewed as an end to her dream of performing, but rather as a conquerable obstacle that proved to be one of her greatest teachers. Bernini’s co-star, sophomore Nate Cushing, faced the same initial anxiety when he first started to find his love for performing. “I somewhat had fear of the stage, but it reduced very quickly,” Cushing said. “Still today, I can say I get jitters. I think some people thrive on the rush of stage fright and some can’t survive through [stage fright] at all. I consider myself someone who [whether I’ve trained myself up to this point or I just got lucky] thrives under the pressure of performing.”

2 As Cushing said, some actors are not as affected by this common form of anxiety. Senior Mark Twal, another one of Bernini’s co-actors in “The Philadelphia Story,” is one of those lucky ones, who hasn’t been affected by this fear of the stage. “Since I’ve begun acting, I haven’t really had stage fright. I’ve always had a lot of confidence on stage,” Twal said. “But I have encountered stage fright before, during Speech and Debate class. It was just building that confidence within myself, over time.” Although all three actors have been able to find the courage inside themselves to conquer stage fright, Bernini also has used the help of her castmates and directors. With the help of her friends in the production, Bernini learned to approach her stage fright as an opportunity for change. “[My co-actors] make me feel excited instead of scared,” Bernini said. “Mr. (Michael) Wright and Mr. (Jeremy) Goldson (theatre teachers) are always available if you have any fears or concerns, and they’re both incredibly kind and understanding people. You know they’re supporting you, which makes it easier to let go of your stage fright.” With this system of support, Bernini has redefined stage fright for herself and hopefully for more actors in the future. “Stage fright is being afraid of going onstage and messing up in front of a lot of people,” Bernini said. “I’ve gained confidence now that if something goes wrong, I’ll be able to handle it.” For her, the anxiety that accompanies performing has evolved into a challenge, a challenge to see just how far she has come and how far she can go. The butterflies, shakes and fear that once came hand in hand with performing are a necessary challenge for actors such as Bernini, Twal, Cushing and others in the Stage Flight Theatre program. “Conquering stage fright allows me to do what I love without being afraid of it,” Bernini said. Fear or not, Bernini said she plans on continuing her acting career throughout high school and finding more opportunities to pursue the art in her higher education.

age fright

3 Bernini’s recent performances: Tracy Lord in “The Philadelphia Story”

Jane Tate in “It Runs in the Family” Elsa Von Grossenkneuten in “Musical Comedy Murders of the 1940’s” Mrs. Six in “The Adding Machine”

Princess in “Ensemble Musicals”

One of nine to perform at the 2015 Thespian Conference and the Shakspeare Festival

1. Senior Megan Bernini and sophomore Nate Cushing read from a notepad in the production of “The Philadelphia Story.” Photo courtesy Madi Spillman 2. Junior Erika Harper, junior Val Urquharpt and Bernini flip through a photo album at the beginning of the play. Photo courtesy Madi Spillman 3. Senior Mark Twal and Cushing act together during the dress rehearsal. Photo courtesy Madi Spillman 4. Twal and Bernini perform in one of their last plays of their high school career. Photo by Morgan MacLean

the drummer boy STORY BY: DAVID ROBINSON PHOTOS BY: DAVID ROBINSON & MCKENNA RALPH

f random members of society were asked to name the lead singers of Nirvana, Maroon 5 or the Rolling Stones, almost everybody would be able to answer instantly. But if they were then asked who the drummers of those bands are, their faces would instantly drop to perplexity before nervously answering, “I don’t know.” Why is this? Why are the drummers of bands so often hidden behind the spotlight of their bandmates? Why does the bandmate who, arguably, exerts the most physical strain into the band’s music go unnoticed? This question’s answer has still yet to be found, but senior Eric Cook has refused to join the society that ignores drummers by instead becoming the drummer and back-up vocalist for local grunge rock band Violet’s Gun. “I didn’t know any drummers until I started drumming,” Cook said. “That alone proves that people who aren’t musicians don’t understand that the drums are the backbone of a song. People love to listen to the vocals and guitar of a song but then they completely forget about the drums.” Cook was inspired to start drumming after listening to the masterful beats of drummers in Led Zeppelin, Avenged Sevenfold and Dream Theater. “I was inspired to start drumming after listening to classic rock and metal,” Cook said. “Listening to drummers like John Bonham, Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan and Mike Portnoy and seeing what they were capable of made me want to be like them.” Cook has been drumming professionally since he started drumming for Mountain Vista’s marching band at the beginning of his freshman year. He said he enjoys the excitement that comes from being in marching band, but he is happier when the emotions of a song influence his drumming. “When I drum, I try to understand the emotion behind the song,” Cook said. “If it’s happy, I try to have fun and keep it upbeat. When I play

something sad, I tend to play a little softer and on the low side. But, when it comes to heavy and aggressive songs, I put my heart out, so to speak, and just leave it all up there [wherever it is I’m playing] while trying to destroy the drums without actually doing so.” Cook shares former Nirvana drummer and current Foo Fighters lead vocalist Dave Grohl’s belief that music talent shows like “American Idol” and “The Voice” are destroying the potential for new musicians, singers and bands: “Waiting to get told that you’re not good enough in front of millions of people is embarrassing to the performer and it destroys people’s hopes of being successful,” Cook said. “I really believe that getting your friends together and just playing hard, even though you may be terrible at it, is so much better because one day you may find out that you’re good at it and you won’t have to be told that you’re not.” Like his bandmates, Cook’s main purpose as a musician is to entertain people, but he is also on a personal mission to change society’s view on drummers and prove that music is a beautiful and powerful art that has the ability to change the world. “Drumming has definitely made me more confident in myself,” Cook said. “Drumming, and music in general, is a way of expressing emotions. Without it I believe life would be pretty boring and useless because music helps people express emotions through tones and get through life.” Violet’s Gun’s first album “Viva II Duce” is available on iTunes ($10) and it is free to stream on Spotify and YouTube. Fans who would like a CD copy of the album ($5) or a Violet’s Gun t-shirt ($15) are encouraged to see Jack McCombs, Peyton Elliott, Hendrick Knoll or Cook.

Visit Violet’s Gun official website www.violetsgun.com or scan the QR code

instagram @violetsgun twitter @violetsgunband snapchat violetsgun facebook Violet’s Gun

“when I drum, I try to understand the emotion behind the song.”

Eric Cook is the drummer for new grunge rock band, Violet’s Gun Cook has been drumming since his freshman year Cook was inspired to start drumming by Led Zeppelin, Avenged Sevenfold and Dream Theater

president

By Jett Crowson

unior Ryan Luedke sprung out of bed on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 9, awoken by the cheers of his family. They had just learned the news they had been waiting for: In the face of mounting odds, Donald J. Trump, the Republican candidate for president of the United States, had been elected to the highest office in the nation. To Luedke and his family, a Trump presidency was essential to the survival of their business, and, in their opinion, America as a whole. “[My parents] wanted Obamacare repealed,” said Luedke. “It has destroyed their healthcare business.” The president-elect promised to repeal Obamacare, a turning point in the Luedke’s support of and vote for Trump. After the morning celebration, Luedke, along with a myriad of other students, threw on his “Make America Great Again” gear and went to school. Almost every news outlet predicted his opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, to win the election. When the day of decision came, Trump won 276 to Clinton’s 228 electoral college votes, but lost the popular vote by 1.4 million votes (as of Nov. 18). Nevertheless, Trump is the 2016 President-Elect. There were mixed reactions as students poured into school the morning after the new president was announced. Many had a very optimistic view about the future of an America under Trump. Sophomore Isabella Grossi is a proponent to many of Trump’s policies. “He’s going to lower taxes, and I like his ideas to reconfigure the trade system that we have right now,” Grossi said. “He will renegotiate our trade agreements, which will be good.” Grossi is among many students who are happy about Trump’s victory and the change he promises. “We need someone who’s mean and won’t take crap from other countries,” freshman Tritan Anderson said. Voters and students such as Anderson cited Trump’s upfront and straightforward manner of speaking as a reason for supporting the businessman

and reality television host. Many said they were tired of common politicians who they see as untrustworthy. According to a recent CNN poll, 68 percent of Americans find that Clinton isn’t honest or trustworthy. Many voted for Trump because they viewed Clinton as a criminal following her e-mail scandal. Clinton was investigated and cleared for using her own email server instead of the State Department’s official email servers. Sophomore Charlie Fu supports Trump for precisely this reason. “I feel good about our new president because Hillary’s a criminal,” he said. Although some voters don’t necessarily like Trump, they just strongly disliked Clinton. “I’d prefer someone who’s just not as nice, versus a criminal,” senior Jordan Madesian said. Of course, the 49 percent of students at Vista who were looking to Clinton to be the next president (according to an unscientific poll on VistaNow.org) were very disappointed and shocked at the results of the election. As the night when on, things started to look worse and worse for the Democratic campaign. In the end, Clinton lost the Electoral College. Numerous supporters of her said they are now fearful for the fate of America. “It’s pretty scary actually. What if (Trump) starts a World War III? What if he approves on a not-well-thought-out attack on ISIS?” junior Conor Murphy said. “I was really anxious and scared at the same time. I had a lot of thoughts running in my mind.” Democrats aren’t the only ones who dislike Trump. Senior Patrick Malin, a Republican, said he disagrees with the way Trump goes about speaking his views. “He is just the worst,” Malin said. “For example, the wall. I personally think the wall is a great idea, but the way he said it is terrible. You shouldn’t say, ‘I’m going to build a wall,’ you should say, ‘I’m going to secure the border.’ The way he approached everything was wrong. [I voted for Trump], but I’m voting for the Republican ideals.” President-elect Trump takes office Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

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Junior Ryan Luedke Infograpic will be ready to go, just need to wait to see who wins to put the final data on it

what we need to know about isis By Leah Diminski

opinions

is marching band a sport? By Gannon Rushall

port /spôrt/ noun: An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. -Oxford Dictionary Sports have a big name at Mountain Vista. From our recent state runner-up volleyball team, to our fantastic state championship poms and cross country teams, and even to our awesome Unified teams, sports play a critical role in the culture of our school. However, as all of these activities are regarded as sports, what about the marching band? As the drum major of the marching band, as well as a former basketball player at Mountain Vista, I can definitely say that marching band should be considered a sport. Imagine this: marching with perfect form (toes up, legs straight, upper body still and square to the front, chin up), holding up to five pounds of brass in front of your face at all times, constantly thinking about where you’re supposed to go on specific counts, watching those around you with your peripheral vision, keeping your eyes on the drum major, playing difficult music at a high level (articulation, style, intonation, blending with the ensemble, dynamic contrast, etc.) and enduring all four seasons from dreadful 100-degree desert heat to a 15-degree blizzard. It is an ultimate physical and

multitasking challenge. In my opinion, marching band at a high level of difficulty can be just as difficult as basketball. Certain sports might require athleticism and hours training, but they’re played in a way that only requires short bursts of energy and impromptu plays. Band is a combination of The marching band enters Shea Stadium before the game constant moving and extreme focus that takes against Regis Jesuit. a tremendous amount of energy in order to Photo by Lauren Lippert perform a great show. The structure of preparing a field show is year, including a statewide competition. Mountain not too different from what one might do during a Vista has a relatively new band program and only sports practice. We warm up with music exercises, entered its first competition in the 2015 season. The stretching, and marching fundamentals. After that, program is steadily growing and in a few years, it we memorize every note of our music and learn how will have a big name in the state. it matches up with our movements on the football Marching band is not just a form of halftime field. entertainment. It is a form of art, a sport and a place Not only do we practice like a team, but we for everyone. The experiences of marching band act like a team. Marching band is a family. We can’t possibly match the experiences of other sports sometimes dub ourselves “The Bandily” because we because it is so unique. are such a tightly knit group of people. We’re always So next time you talk over the marching band supportive and encouraging to each other, and we at a football game, think about how much time and try our very best to make marching band a place for dedication we put into our sport. After all, they everyone. might be louder than you in the coming years. Competitions also play a large role in high school marching bands. There are dozens every

By Drew Stahl

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ending the drought: Cubs win! t had been 108 years since the Chicago Cubs have won the World Series earlier this month. There are three curses Cubs fans pin their struggles on: the curse of the billy goat, black cat and the Bartman Ball. The curse of the Billy Goat was set in 1945 where a fan had two tickets to a World Series game and decided to bring his goat with him. He was asked to leave the game because the other fans complained about the goat having an awful stench. The fan then went back to his tavern and said the Cubs will never win the World Series again. On Sept. 9, 1969 a black cat ran in front of Ferguson Jenkins during an at-bat. Black cats typically are seen as bad omens and this case was no different because the Cubs season was driven straight into the ground after this game. Steve Bartman interfered with a foul ball that would have been caught by the left fielder. The following play was a taylormade double ball that was booted by the shortstop and this string of events is said to have cost the Cubs the game and eventually the Series. In truth, the Cubs just haven’t been good enough or made the plays when they presented themselves. The team has posted 54 seasons under the .500 (win percentage) mark. They have had a weak minor league system until recently when Theo Epstein joined the team as the general manager. The Cubs were sold to the Tribune Company which began the start of a bad era for the Cubs. However, after switching ownership, the Cubs weren’t given the same luxury treatment as the other teams in the league. I believe in order to have a competitive team on the field, you need to have a solid relationship with the front office. As the relationship between players has improved, so has the product on the field. In the 2016 season, the Cubs finished with the best record in Major League Baseball. The club also eclipsed the 100-win mark. The club has brought in one of the best managers in the game, Joe Madden. Madden keeps the game fun for the team throughout the whole season with his outgoing personality by making a theme for every road trip the team takes. This shouldn't be underestimated when the team plays 81 games on the road. On Nov. 2, 2016, 108 years of suffering ended for the Chicago faithful. The Cubs won, 8-7, in Game Seven of the World Series—the City of Chicago will remember this championship forever.

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b K photo licensing by creative commons courtesy of George R Lawerence

1908 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

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p photo licensing by creative commons photo courtesy by Jasen Leathers

HOME OF THE CHICAGO CUBS: WRIGLEY FIELD

in response to:

letter to the editors "Is Colin right?" | Eagle Eye | 10.17.16 Dear Editors, Be careful when you say that the protesters aren't disrespecting anybody. The message of the protest, to end police brutality and racial injustice, is a real issue that needs to addressed and has been missed by many because of the method of the protest. I'm taking steps to see how I can help address this important issue On the other hand, I've spoken with police officers (including your own school officer), veterans, and a Highlands Ranch Gold Star dad (that means his son was KIA, while fighting Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan) about this subject and many do feel disrespected. Imagine if you had a son who died fighting for our freedoms, and the same flag you were given that covered your son's casket is not being properly honored during the National Anthem. The National Anthem (and Pledge of Allegiance) have become mundane tasks. And it's

our fault (parents and teachers) for not properly teaching the importance of these civic moments to you. It's not much to ask for all of us to stand united, for about 15 seconds during the Pledge and just over one minute for the Anthem, showing reverence, gratefulness, and unity with one another and Our Flag. It's a time to remember and honor the sacrifices made to earn and keep our freedoms and a moment for us to promise (hand over my heart) to live up to and continue pursuing Our Flag's tenets of becoming "indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." The flag isn't necessarily what we are at the moment. It's what we, and our country, should aspire to be — willing to die to uphold the freedoms Our Flag represents. Thankfully many American citizens have done that for you and I. Sean Sweeney

colin right?

opinions on

not standing for the

national anthem

international disarmament week sparks peace and concern for the second amendment By Jarom Edwards

he election season certainly ended with a bang, as slander and attacks targeted candidate after candidate. However, as shots were fired domestically, the world as a whole has united in honor of International Disarmament Week Oct. 24-30, 2016. Delegates and diplomats from the wide majority of developed nations assembled at the United Nations in New York in honor of the week of peace. There, unified efforts were encouraged to promote global awareness and continue to develop treaties. The week itself is well known to celebrate global unity, peace and the ever present issue of disarmament—a goal that most notably takes form in the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The treaty itself, designed to eliminate illicit trade of weapons across borders, was originally proposed in 2013. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry signed the treaty then. Upon returning Washington, D.C., he was met by an uproar from the Senate—despite his signature, the ratification process was entirely denied by a bipartisan majority, claiming the treaty infringed too far upon Second Amendment rights. Despite the fierce aggression displayed by times past, the Obama Administration has recently endeavored to finish what it started, and push the ATT through the ratification process. William Malzahn, the United States delegate, signed the treaty anew on Aug. 22, restating the commitment of the United States. For better or for worse, Donald Trump will succeed Obama as the next president of the United States. If his platform is consistent, it seems all but assured that he will make efforts to halt the ratification of the ATT as a staunch supporter of Second Amendment rights. It should, however, be noted that he has yet to say anything on this particular matter, apart from his general opinions on gun control. Rather, it seems only time will tell whether the argument of peace, or that of Second Amendment rights, will prevail.

Disarmament Week started with a resolution during a special session meeting of the United Nations in 1978. The week started to promote the Arms Trade Treaty, which has since gained 130 signatories. The Treaty was ratified Dec. 24, 2014. It regulates the international trade in conventional arms — from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships. Oct. 24, the start of the week, also signifies the anniversary of founding of the United Nations in 1945. The vision statement of Department for Disarmament Affairs says: “We acknowledge that disarmament alone will not produce world peace. Yet we also maintain that the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, illicit arms trafficking and burgeoning weapons stockpiles would advance both peace and development goals.” Source: United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs For more information on Disarmament Week: www.un.org/en/events/disarmamentweek/

nearing the end By Austin Sack

s the school days fly by, many underclassmen look forward to Winter Break or becoming an upperclassman. However, for the Class of 2017 there is only one day on their mind: May 17. As of Nov. 22, the countdown to graduation sits at 183 days, but many seniors began their countdown on the first day of school. Although the seniors can’t wait to get out of high school and begin their lives, many have a bittersweet feeling when thinking about graduating. “High school has been amazing. I’ve loved getting involved and have made lifelong friends,” senior Maddy Decker said. “However, I’m excited to see what comes next in my life. I know college will be amazing and I can’t wait to see where I end up.” There are several life milestones that happen throughout high school, such as getting your driver’s license, turning 18, lettering in a sport and especially graduating. However, the members of the Class of 2017 are ready to experience the next chapter of their lives and even more milestones, such as applying and getting accepted to their dream school, moving away from home and working on achieving a degree in their desired field of work. “I applied to the University of Northern Colorado and University of Colorado Colorado Springs because they both have good nursing programs,” senior Sophie Buntin said. “It was an easy choice between the two because I got more scholarships from UNC, so it was a better option. The nursing program is [also] better there.” Some seniors may argue that applying to college isn’t as hard as deciding which college to attend. “I’m deciding between Iowa State University and Montana State University,” senior Graham Carroll said. “I’m weighing the pros and cons of each school. I look at the distance from home, prices and things I can do on campus.” For most upperclassmen, knowing where to go to college is very difficult, however a select few knew from the moment they stepped on campus. Senior Jaxyn McKesson is applying to four universities, but he only has one school, Colorado State University, in mind. “Colorado State University has been my number one since the summer after freshman year,” McKesson said.

college apps A

I Th E m I Th I I I I A I f Th E Th m H I O W A Th M B I A Th W

By Lexi Weingardt

s the January deadline for college application submissions creeps closer, many seniors are beginning to stress over the quality of their college essays and Common App, the application that allows seniors to fill out one application to submit to all of their schools. However, for seniors who submitted their applications for early action or early decision in November, that stress is long over. Early-decision plans are binding, which means you must go to that school if you are accepted. Early action, on the other hand, is not binding. Students simply receive a response from the college earlier. “[I like my decision to apply early] because it shows schools that I am interested and it gives me a leg up,” senior Abi Fisch said. Fisch applied to 7 different colleges. Many colleges recommend applying for early action for several different reasons. First of all, applying early can give you a better chance of being admitted to a school, especially if you are on the border. It can also give you the peace of mind of having all the stress of applications over with by the beginning of November. Lastly, and possibly most importantly, if you already have good grades and test scores, it may be beneficial to get those applications out before your grades drop during senior year. “I don’t want the hassle of having to wait a super-long time for a decision when I could just as easily apply and find out early,” senior Cole Riechert said. “[This way I have] a bunch of time to consider my options and make the right decision.” Reichert applied to 4 different universities. Although many students have chosen to apply for early action or early decision, some students feel that it is not worth it. “[I don’t regret not applying early action or early decision] because none of the schools I am applying to are super prestigious,” senior Brooke Hennessey said. “I don’t want to have to go to one of them just because I got in.”

Th l P w a a c b a c t n T o o o e b M i a

E C

student writing three words By Katy Mcvey, 11

I hate you Three words you can never unsay Eight letters that hurt and leave a permanent mark on your heart I Hate You They can never be taken back It doesn’t matter how you say it I loathe you I detest you I dislike you All different but mean the same I hate you forever be forgotten Three simple words Eight small letters That when strung in this order can hurt so much How can they impact like this Is it because we let them Or is it because they hurt enough so that We can’t help but believe them And accept them as truth The person who said them Might not really mean it But that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt It doesn’t change the fact that they said it And that we heard it The worst part is We now believe it

But, If you change one word it becomes a beautiful sentence that fill someone with joy I Love You It doesn’t matter how you say it I adore you I fancy you I like you All different but mean the same I love you These three simple words These eight small letters Can’t remove the scars and marks from someone saying I hate you But they can help repair and make the old marks less noticeable I Love You Can make your day go from bad to great These words are harder to believe after you’ve been told that they hate you We are worried that they don’t really mean it But eventually we believe them And each time we believe them more and more I Love You

short story By Avery O’Daniel, 11

The couch let out a breath of air as we collapsed on it. Music blasted from the TV while you leaned against the arm of the sofa, which was as blue as the water at the bottom of the ocean. Pictures of adolescence littered the light yellow walls. Your touch was like a portal to another world, taking away all my worries and leaving me in complete bliss. Your scent encased me and trapped me by your side. You smelled like the Northern Lights: something inexplicable and couldn’t possibly live up to anyone’s description of it. The film gradually introduced the characters and the plot. 4 out of the 6 lightbulbs that were supposed to shine overhead were broken. My hands shook and butterflies erupted in my stomach. Your arms snaked around me and your hands rested on me haphazardly. You were the first summer day after 3 seasons of clouds. You left sunshine and flowers wherever you went. We lay intertwined on the couch as the movie went on. Few words were exchanged, but laughter filled the room at jokes we didn’t need to make out loud. Your laugh felt like the first bite into a chocolate covered strawberry. Tomorrow didn’t exist, and yesterday didn’t either. The only thing that mattered was the feeling of your heartbeat and the heat from your hands on my stomach. It was simple and innocent; our limbs were intertwined and hung off the too-small couch, the smell of a litter box drifted over from the bathroom and permanently hung in the air, it was just too cold but not cold enough for a blanket, and we didn’t fit perfectly into each other’s arms like the movies made us believe. We were shy and naïve. No kisses were shared, just nervous giggles and sweet nothings. My hair was in your face and your mouth and I was so embarrassed but you didn’t mind. I intertwined our fingers and your breath hitched. Meaningless “I love you”s fell from your lips and tasted like bubblegum flavoured lollipops. Editors’ Note: For the full short story, visit VistaNow.org at The Arts drop-down menu, Creative Writing page.

the discovery T By Hallie Marker, 10

he thick, prodigious jungle didn’t seem to get any less confusing as Sophie trudged through its heavy undergrowth. Her camera lolled beside her, hitting her hip every time she took a step. Sophie Reynolds was a nature photographer on a pedantic mission to capture creatures of the Amazonian region. She had begged her employer not to go on the mission, for she had a cogent fear of getting lost in the wilderness…which was happening to her right now. Even though she was internally losing her mind, she fought hard to keep her composure for the sake of her colleague, Gwendolyn. Gwen had been suffering from lung cancer, as she was an avid smoker. The journey was made that much more difficult because Gwen needed to take a breath every hundred feet or so. Sophie, of course, was understanding of her condition and did the best she could to cater to her needs and wants. After all, if her boss hadn’t assigned this mission neither of them would be here. Staggering for breath, Gwen plodded after her co-worker. Each step was just a reminder that they were pretty much stranded in the middle of the jungle somewhere in eastern Brazil. Thoughts shrouded both of their tired minds as they lazily crept through the foliage, until they heard footsteps off in the distance that were much larger than their own. Since the journey’s conception, Sophie has been wary of what creatures might come. So when they heard those footsteps, Sophie’s stomach dropped to the floor. Between two ferns, they could just make out the dappled coat of a jaguar. The hair on the back of their necks stood up. Their knees began trembling and at that very moment they were struggling to hold their breaths. That, of course, caused Gwen’s eyes to tear up. She had to let out a cough. Try as she might, she had to let go. So a cough sent them both to shock as they watched the massive feline glare from between the fern tendrils. A robust roar sent the plants blowing in different directions as the jaguar lurched at the travelers. Screeching like mice, the pair darted away. Too afraid to separate from one another. Lunging over tree stumps and ravines, the two explorers knew that they couldn’t keep it up much longer. They knew that the gargantuan feline was snapping its jaws at their heels. Quickly, Sophie grabbed onto a tree limb. Yanking Gwen after her with all her strength. They scrambled on top like monkeys, as the jaguar skidded to a halt. Tasting the air, the cat could tell that the two women lingered nearby. The jaguar yawned and realized he wouldn’t be getting such a substantial meal today… Editors’ Note: For the full short story of The Discovery, visit VistaNow.org at The Arts drop down menu, Creative Writing page.

haiku By Nichita Pleascan, 12

Hammer strikes anvil Swords stroke bluntly with blood ink Pen strokes are smoother

JUNIOR BRENDAN DREILING runs the ball in a game against Regis Jesuit High School. “It was a very exciting game and we staged a very good comeback the second half and almost pulled it out at the end” Dreiling said. Vista lost, 49-64. Photo by Lauren Lippert

VARSITY VOLLEYBALL takes second place in the State Championship game against Fossil Ridge High School. “It was my first time going to State, and not a lot of teams get to have that experience,” junior Amanda Keller said. “The loss was hard because we were so close.” Photo by Tyler Merchant

JUNIOR POMS DANCERS look on as varsity poms performs at halftime during the football game against top-ranked Pomona. “My team and I always look forward to Junior Dance Camp,” junior Isabelle Vaughn said, “It’s especially great to dance with them at football games because they get to show off their new skills.” Junior poms is made up of 5- to13-year-old girls aspiring to be Mountain Vista dancers. Photo by Savanah Howard

JUNIOR BRIAN SHOCKLEY runs to the finish line for a photo finish at Dekovand Park. “It’s great,” said Shockley. “I love running, and it’s always awesome when you get a cool picture finish like that.” Vista races attended races at the Nike XC Regionals in Phoenix Nov. 19, 2016. Photo by Keyahn Golgoon

SOPHOMORES EMILY HUFF AND ANNIE ROARKE high five each other before the start of the game during their Continental League season. Photo by Michael Place

fall sports

THE VARSITY SOFTBALL TEAM cheers in the dugout during their game against ThunderRidge. “I thought [the game] was so fun. Every win was amazing, but the ThunderRidge win was something else,” sophomore Emilee Sloan said. “Seeing all of us working together as a team to beat our rival was amazing.” The girls defeated ThunderRidge, 4-0. Photo by Michael Place Caption by Savanah Howard

SENIOR WILL Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;BRIEN performs the halftime show and plays the trumpet during a football game.

pink week

THE MOUNTAIN VISTA COMMUNITY is no stranger to breast cancer. Every year, the school participates in Pink Week, a week of honoring those who have been diagnosed with the disease. Whether it be the head football coach’s wife or just another student’s parent, the student body came together to donate money that will aid breast cancer research.

pink week statistics

•$5,000 raised •MVHS & RCHS merged their pink weeks •Funds went to the Cash family and the Jill Lamb Foundation •Stickers, wristbands and scrunchies were sold

susan cash

By Haley Kolseth Photos courtesy of the Cash Family

SUSAN CASH supports her husband Ric Cash and the Mountain Vista football team at the pink-out game during the 2015 season. TO DONATE to the Jill Lamb Foundation go to: jilllambfoundation.org

his past July, junior Jessi Cash and freshman Kariss’ mother, Susan, succumbed to her battle against breast cancer after a year-long fight. “[This Pink Week] has been overwhelming for me and my family because my mom was still with us last year, but this year has been for supporting breast cancer in general and the Jill Lamb Foundation, which is an incredible

foundation,” Cash said. With the passing of her mother, Cash and her family now have to experience family events and holidays without Susan. “With the holidays coming up, it’s going to be really difficult but we’re a really close family, so we’ll be able to get through this together,” Cash said.

shauna zakrzewksi By Haley Kolseth Photo courtesy of the Zakrzewski family

enior Brad Zakrzewski’s mom, Shauna, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in July 2016. “[The hardest part] is going to school because it’s kind of hard to focus sometimes because you get a sudden thought about it and it sucks,” Brad said. Shauna Zakrzewski completed her third chemotherapy treatment in early November and ended with positive results in her favor. Moving forward, she has five more chemo treatments left. Although not cured, the positive results from Shauna’s chemo are a step in the right direction for the family. “We just have to accept that this is real and we have to deal with what’s happening,” Zakrzewski said.

SENIOR BRAD ZAKRZEWSKI along with his sister Katie and his mom Shauna on a beach in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

MVHS yearbook

aerie 2017

seniors

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Dec. 1, 2016 (Final deadline) for more information go to vistanow.org/aerie-yearbook

yearbook prices $75.00

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March 1 - April 30, 2017 ORDER: JOSTENYEARBOOKS.COM QUESTIONS: SEE MR. NEWTON IN U328

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Dec. 18, 2016 - Feb.28, 2017

$100.00

May 1, 2017 and after

clubs

trick-or-treat street T

By Arianna Dimercurio and Lauren Gano

rick-or-Treat Street is an annual event hosted by several Mountain Vista clubs, including FCCLA, Student Leadership, National Art Honors Society, Interact Club and Key Club. This event provides a safe, enclosed trick-or-treating experience for children up to 11 years old. “I loved making all of the decorations for that night. It was a bonding experience for [our club] and it was very fun.” said sophomore Vikki Wong, a member of Interact Club. The school is transformed overnight into several themed hallways. The 2016 event included a boardwalk theme, “When I Grow Up,” animals and PokémonGO. Student volunteers dressed in correlation to their theme and handed out candy to kids who came with their families. “I really enjoy seeing all of the kids and their costumes. It doesn’t feel like work. It is all fun!” said sophomore Emma Wright, a member of Key Club. Wright and her friends dress as spiders for the animal-themed hall held in the 200s. Not only do the children dress up for this holiday, but the parents got in on the fun with family costumes such as Marvel superheroes and Disney’s Finding Nemo. According to estimates, almost 5,000 children cycled through the school in just over two hours, giving the volunteers a serious workout. The clubs went through over 200 large bags of candy during the event. STUDENT LEADERSHIP SPONSOR Lindsey Jaffe and her family dress up as different characters from Disney's Finding Nemo. Jaffe continues to be one of the lead corrdinators for the event every year. Many of Vista staff members also dressed up to get into the Halloween spirit.

t i a

b d n

t t s SOPHOMORE EMMA WRIGHT poses in her festive Halloween costume before Trick-or-Treat street begans where she will hand out candy to all the kids.

B SENIOR EVI PATTERSON attends Trick or Treat Street for FCCLA. "My favorite part was seeing all the little kid's costumes," Patterson said.

mock-trial By Charlie Fu

he Mock Trial team is looking forward to a new year of practicing and competing, especially with a new sponsor, math teacher Justine Riant, a former attorney. Riant herself is extremely optimistic about becoming the sponsor of the club. “Law was not a good fit for a career for me,” she said, “but now that I have students to teach, it made law fun again.” The officers of the club, juniors Taryn Glentzer and Alexis Brooker, said they are looking forward to Riant as the new sponsor. “This year, I’ll be much more prepared,” Brooker said. “The coaching will be much more intense, and also more helpful.” With all of the new members and experience from last year, hopes are high for a strong Mock Trial team this year. “I’m feeling good for the competition coming up in the second semester,” said Glentzer. “Riant has an extensive amount of knowledge on law, and she has been helping us a lot as we study cases to prepare.” Sophomore Max Probst, who joined this year, also said he has high hopes for the club. “I’m looking to make more friends and further my knowledge in law,” Probst said. “I can’t wait to see what is in store for me in the future.” Riant said she hopes for “enjoyment, improvement and progress of knowledge” in every Mock Trial team member and Pre-Law Society club. “I can’t wait to see my students improve as law students and speakers in general,” she said.

JUNIOR OFFICERS TARYN GLENTZER AND ALEXIS BROOKER perform a mock trial at the interest meeting. "I'm really looking forward to practicing and competing," Glentzer said. The Mock Trial team meets every Tuesday and Thursday in L411.

cindy galligan: last day at vista By Gabe Barnard

our-and-a-half years ago, Cindy Galligan started working as a secretary for the school counseling department. Stationed at a cubicle in one of the hallways of the counseling office, Galligan’s responsibilities included giving tours to prospective students, scheduling college visits and maintaining scholarships for students. “I do a lot of things that nobody else wants to do,” Galligan said. “That is a part that I love about my day because everyday is different.” Galligan gives tours for 70 to 75 families a year and organizes over 100 college visits to the school. However, the best part about her job isn’t the variety of tasks she completes every day, it is the students that she works with. “By far and away I love the kids,” Galligan said. “They are my favorite people just because I have known so many of them since they were in kindergarten because I actually worked at Bear Canyon [Elementary School] first and then came to Vista. It is so much fun seeing everybody grow up and where they are going to college.” Nov. 18 was Galligan’s last day in her position. She will be moving on to work in sales, which is where she worked before being employed at multiple schools including Vista. Galligan will be working for Kuhl Clothing, a company that sells and distributes mountain sportswear as well as Canopy Hammocks and YETI coolers. Galligan’s daughters, Libby, Mary, and junior Janey Galligan will all be in college in 18 months, so Galligan is moving into the sales world in order to be able to better support her daughters through their college education. After working as a counseling secretary, Galligan has gained an appreciation for the people that have taught her daughters and worked with her at the school. She is also going to remember the time she shared with her coworkers at Mountain Vista. “I'm definitely going to miss the people that I work with because we're good friends,” Galligan said. “I work in a hallway so I hear stuff all day long and I'm definitely going to miss the buzz around here, it’s a great group of people.” The counselors she worked with, are also going to miss her presence in the office because of the impact Galligan made on them with the attitude she brought to work everyday. “I am going to miss her sense of humor,” Counselor Robyn Mott said. “She is so fun to work with and she is so entertaining and she makes my day better everyday."

“She’s always very helpful,” Deanne McLendon said. “We’re not only colleagues but we’ve become friends.”

“It was nice to know if I ever needed anything she was 20 feet away,” junior Janey Galligan, Cindy’s daughter, said. “We were all super-involved.”

“Mrs. Galligan had a really large presence in this area — she was kind of the ‘reputation’ of the Counseling Department,” counselor Robyn Mott said. “She’s going to be greatly missed by the rest of us.”

“I am a firm believer that we [Counseling Department] are only as good as our support team,” counselor Emma Schofield said. “She [Galligan] was amazing support staff here and it will be really difficult to not have her.”

from Europe to the U.S. By Morgan MacLean and Julia Driggs

ttending Mountain Vista and living in America, people often fail to realize how much our society impacts us. For foreign exchange student and former freshman Alex Sedláková, America brought many opportunities of change. Arriving in Colorado in late August, Sedláková was afraid of being an outsider. However, her experience exceeded her expectations. “I changed a lot in America [personality wise],” Sedláková said. “I’m sure it was for the better.” As expected, there was the inevitable challenges that came with being a student in a foreign country. “I never knew how to react [in certain situations] or what to do sometimes because I was scared that people would think I was a creepy Slovakian,” Sedláková said. She was able to overcome the language barrier, met new friends, and made living in Highlands Ranch a great experience. Living in the United States not only changed her personality for the better, but it changed her perspective for the future. Instead of dreaming about

becoming a rock star as she did previously, she’s changed her aspirations to become a journalist. It was something that had never crossed her mind until she experienced Mountain Vista Media. Sedlakova now dreams about applying to NYU and majoring in journalism. She would like to make The United States her permanent home. Although she missed her friends and family back in Slovakia, Sedláková wished she could’ve extended her stay here in Colorado. “I was really happy and I had the time of my life,” Sedláková said. Achieving one of her life long goals of being a foreign exchange student was a beneficial experience for Sedláková because it allowed her to focus more on learning who she was and what she wanted to become. “I actually care about [bettering] myself because I had never realized how important it was. The American experience opened my eyes [to new possibilities],”Sedláková said.“I can be more assertive and I can express myself now.”

SEDLAKOVA (FAR LEFT) poses with Moutanin Vista Media after recieving her press pass.

"I HAVE TO SAY LEAVING MY HOME and flying to another country wasn’t as scary as starting my freshman year of high school was."

"EVERYONE TRIED TALKING TO ME and people were so friendly, something that never happens in Europe."

Former freshman Alex Sedlakova

Q&A

HOW HAVE THE THERAPY DOGS IMPACTED YOUR VIEWS ON GRIEF OR STRESS? “The therapy dogs have impacted the way I see grief, stress or mourning because prior to them coming to Vista I had no clue that dogs could have such a positive influence on making someone feel better during a tough time.” DID THE THERAPY DOGS HELP WHEN GRIEVING? DID THEY IMPACT YOU IN A SPECIFIC WAY? “The dogs were brand new when Herman passed and I had a really hard time opening up to people on how I felt. So having the dogs helped me because I didn’t have to say anything to feel comforted."

therapy dogs By Caitlin English

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the Therapy Dogs, visit vistatherapydogs.weebly.com

SEDLAKOVA POSES with her U.S family during a trip to the mountains.

Junior Cameron Hancock enjoys playing varsity hockey and lacrosse for Vista. Among these extracurriculars, Hancock also partakes in American Sign Language Honor Society (ASLHS) and student leadership (StudLe). After teacher and coach Jake Herman died last winter, Hancock was one of the first students to access the therapy dogs at Vista.

WHY DID YOU UTILIZE THE THERAPY DOGS? WOULD YOU USE THEM AGAIN OR RECOMMEND THEM TO SOMEONE ELSE? “I utilized the dogs because my brothers and I were going through the hardest time in most of our lives and they were available to us anytime we needed them. I would definitely recommend them to other people who are going through a tough time or just need to feel better."

recipes By Ben Yoshida

he fall is a time of change—whether it be leaves, clothes or even food. Here are some holiday recipes you can use for snacks at parties or just for yourself.

CHOCOLATE PRETZEL TURKEYS ½ cup melted chocolate chips 24 mini pretzels 8 Oreo cookies 8 pieces candy corn 16 candy eyeballs Melt chocolate discs in the microwave for approximately two minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Dip and coat the pretzels completely and set aside on parchment paper in groups of three as shown in the final picture. Dip and coat an oreo in chocolate and place in the middle of a set of three pretzels. Place a candy corn for the beak and the candy eyeballs. Chill to set the chocolate.

fashion By Katy Harris

he fall season is here, and so are the clothes. Fall fashion is buzzing as colder weather is moving in and junior Alex Owen is one to represent her fashion-forward style. “I think dressing nice is a lost art that no one does anymore,” Owen said. “You feel more confident in who you are, like you can take on the world.” Clothes are a great way to express your personality, and Owen uses them to show who she is. Now that fall is here, Owen expands her wardrobe. “My go to fall outfit is boots, a dress and a cute pair of tights,” she said. With fall comes its popular trends and Owen keeps that in mind. “My outfits are based off of the [hottest] trends,” Owen said. She stays up-to-date to strut the latest seasonal styles in fashion. Moving deeper into fall and beginning of winter, she pairs different styles, like comfy sweaters with boots, dresses and tights, various types of jewelry and more.

ith Thanksgiving over, you can always count on there to be leftover mashed potatoes. With the leftover mashed potatoes, you can create a tasty treat using ingredients you can find in your pantry. BACON WRAPPED MASHED POTATO BOMBS Mashed potatoes Cheddar cheese Flour Egg Breadcrumbs Bacon Toothpick Oil for deep frying Cut up the cheddar cheese into about one-inch cubes. Form about two to three tablespoons of mashed potatoes around the cubes of cheese to form a ball. Roll the balls into flour, then a beaten egg, then the bread crumbs. Wrap with bacon and secure with toothpicks. Deep fry in oil at approximately 350 degrees until golden brown or until cheese begins to ooze out. Set out to cool.

“ f c L T

4 1

things to do in

december 3

9News Parade of Lights Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. in downtown Denver

Zoo Lights Dec. 2-Jan. 1 at the Denver Zoo

Ice skating at Skyline Park, Denver Nov. 22-Feb. 14 at the Southwest Airlines rink in downtown Denver

Avalanche hockey games November-April at the Pepsi Center, Denver

favorite fall break moments By Lauren Irwin

enior Avery Adams and her mother Sally Adams stayed in Colorado for family time during Fall Break. “Over Fall Break, I drove to Estes Park with my family,” Avery said. “We went up to enjoy the fall colors before they were gone. Colorado is a beautiful state in the fall.” Fall in the Colorado’s Rocky Mountains attracts many tourists — even those who live here year round.

uniors Paige Livingston and Katelyn Sager ventured out of state during Fall Break. “During Fall Break I went to Arizona with my family and friends. My favorite part was visiting colleges and relaxing at the pool,” Livingston said. Livingston visited Arizona State University in Tempe and the University of Arizona in Tucson.

all Break may not have consisted of a vacation, but it wasn’t boring for junior Jaelyn Hendren and her family. “Over Fall Break, I mostly stayed at home. I got a puppy, a lab. Her name is Aspen,” Hendren said. Hendren said the addition of a puppy brings her family a lot of new excitement and responsibilities.

MURPHY, LOCAL LABRADOODLE, smiles big after reaching the top of the Matthews Winters Park in Morrison. Matthews Winters Park has plenty of day hikes, and is open until December. Photo by Leah Deminski

UP NEAR IDAHO SPRINGS snow caps off the peaks and colors fade from vibrant to dull showing signs of incoming winter. Photo by Savanah Howard

LOCATED IN PARKER, Flat Acres Farm has a variety of fall activies to do ranging from pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hay rides, and more. Photo by Lauren Lippert

HIDDEN IN THE MIDST of Chatfield State Park is a breathtaking walking trail filled with trees and plants of all shape, size, and color. Photo by Savanah Howard

RAIN GLISTENS DOWN upon a lake at the entrance of Perry Park in Larkspur. Photo by Austin Sack

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@vista_now For the most up-todate news, check out our website. vistanow.org