Elevate Magazine Vol. 7 Issue 1 | Fall 2021

RJ MEDIA STUDENT MAGAZINE

REGIS JESUIT HS

ELEVATE MAGAZINE RJ MEDIA STUDENT MAGAZINE REGIS JESUIT HS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 1 FALL 2021

A TRIBUTE TO

20 YEARS SINCE THE ATTACKS

ON 9/11

ELEVATE

MAGAZINE

JOIN OUR

STAFF

@rj_media

@rj_media @rjmedia

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to amplify the voices that often go unheard at Regis Jesuit in the pursuit of diversity, authenticity, and community by listening and sharing unique perspectives from every corner of our campus.

RJ Media is an open Forum for student free expression.

We meet every Wednesday after school in BD 262.

Feel free to come by!

OUR DOORS ARE OPEN Comments, Questions, Ideas?

Come and see us in BD 262 or find us on Social Media.

ELEVATESTAFF EDITORS-IN-CHIEF:

MOLLY NICHOLS ‘23, GRANT BARNES ‘23

COPY EDITORS:

SABRINA VIZURRAGA ‘22, Jacob Gold ‘23

HEAD DESIGNER:

SERENA NGUYEN ‘22 GRAPHIC DESIGNERS:

Dani Mendez ‘22, Brynne Dixon ‘22, Jose Banuelos ‘22, Damon Shin ‘23

HEAD ILLUSTRATOR: JOEY PAOLUCCI ‘22 ILLUSTRATORS:

Dani Mendez ‘22, Brynne Dixon ‘22,

WRITERS:

Sabrina Vizurraga ‘22, Jose Najera-Gutierrez ‘22, Grant Barnes ‘23, Molly Nichols ‘23, Parker Gillen ‘23, Jacob Gold ‘23, Rachel Hilty ‘23, Bridget Fitzpatrick ‘23, Mason Harris ‘24

STORY MANAGER Mason Harris ‘24

PHOTOGRAPHY: Sabrina Vizurraga ‘22, Leonardo Osuna ‘24, Anthony Otero ‘25

ELEVATE

MAGAZINE

ADVISERS:

MARIA LYNCH, NICOLE ARDUINI

ONLINE MAGAZINE: RJMEDIANOW.COM

DEAR REGIS JESUIT COMMUNITY, Not all of us were alive the day the world was forever changed. Our generation does not know what it was like to watch and listen to the events unfold on September 11, 2001. We did not feel the shock, fear, and uncertainty with the rest of the world. Around this time every year, we view the television specials that commemorate the lives lost. We listen to the adults in our lives who try to articulate the horrors of the events they witnessed, and we try to put ourselves in their shoes, but we will never grasp the actual heartbreak they felt during this tragedy. We must acknowledge and hold on to the recollections of teachers, firefighters, police officers, office workers, and government officials who lived through it, so we never forget. We will remember the lives lost, the thousands of Americans who were taken away from us too soon. We will honor the memories, families, and lives they left behind. We will forever hold in our hearts those who perished and those who continue to suffer the emotional, mental, and physical impacts of September 11, 2001.

We are so grateful for the members of our community who took the time to tell us their stories. We would like to thank our advisors Ms. Lynch and Ms. Arduini for serving as valuable mentors and dedicating so much of their time to helping the Elevate Staff. We also want to thank every contributor and influencer of this issue of Elevate. Thank you.

-THE ELEVATE MAGAZINE EDITORS

EDITORIAL POLICIES

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FONTS USED: AHJ Franklin Gothic for body copy & captions Masthead: AYT Craft Gothic Bold Headlines: AYT Craft Gothic Bold Subheadlines: AHJ Bodoni Display Bold Drop Caps: AHJ Bodoni Display Pull quotes: AHJ Franklin Gothic Condensed

RJ Media [Elevate Magazine, rjmedianow.com, RJTV and RJTV Sports Network] operates as a limited-open forum for student free expression. The publications are for the students, by the students.

The staff aims to balance what the audience wants with what it needs, and strives to make solid judgments with regards to news value and news awareness.

The publications will serve as a medium for student opinions and ideas. RJ Media strives to produce objective, well-balanced and accurate reporting and content that features a range of students, their interests and their viewpoints. The staff is dedicated to being fair, accurate, balanced, truthful and responsible. The staff will seek the truth and report it, minimize harm and act independently.

We promise to be transparent, accountable and open. The staff also upholds Ignation values with regard to social justice and openness to growth. The staff prides itself on using the Ignation Pedagogical Paradigm to help make decisions: context, experience, reflection, action, and evaluation.

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administration or faculty and staff shall not practice prior review or the have the ability to censor any student publication, with the exception of material deemed to be legally obscene, libelous, substantially and materially disruptive, or coverage on any one of the following three topics, wherein coverage will be worked through with the president and principals: Obituaries, employee termination, and crimes or cases in the court of law.

The views of columnists are not necessarily those of the newspaper staff. Opinions will be published on designated pages or otherwise marked.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor are welcome and encouraged, but will only be published if they are accompanied by a name and signature. Letters should be short and free of “bashing” or obscenity.

Letters to the editor do not reflect the views of the RJ Media staff and will be marked on pages designated as such. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for potentially libelous material and length. The staff will not

edit letters for punctuation, grammar and usage. Letters with issues will be returned to the submitter for further review.

Contact the RJ Media Editorial Board at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com or in the RJ Media Lab (PAC-102). You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @RJ_Media

CONTENTS

FALL 2021 6

4

17

COMIC

37 WEAR YOUR MASK A comic illustrating the struggles and consequences of improper mask wearing

COMMENTARY

FEATURES 08

32 33 34 34 35

A TALE OF THREE CITIES Regis Jesuit faculty share their personal accounts of the tragic day of 9-11

16

MASKS & VACCINES

27

A review of Tri-County Health’s mask and vaccine policies.

18

OPED: MASK MISCONDUCT OPED: WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY? RJ POWDER PUFF FOOTBALL FALL FAVORITES CLUBS, CLUBS, & MORE CLUBS

MENTAL HEALTH Take a closer look into students and their mental health through a COVID-19 year

26 FALL PLAY

28

Take a look at Regis Jesuit’s fall production of Much Ado About Nothing

FUN STUFF 04 HEAR THE BEAT

ON THE COVER

Introducing Regis Jesuit’s very own St. Kaggwa Drumline and the start of new traditions

We remember the 20 year anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001.

22 RAIDERS WIN THE WAR

ILLUSTRATOR

View the highlights of student athletes and teams from this season’s sports

30 HARRY STYLES Missed the Harry Styles concert? Take a glance into what you missed.

Joey Paolucci ‘22

22

TABLE OF CONTENTS ELEVATE 01

BACK TO BACK CHAMPS Photo by Reilly Wible ‘22

THE VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY TEAM IS BACK TO BACK STATE CHAMPIONS

Regis Jesuit took on the Colorado Academy Mustangs in the state championship on November 1, 2021.

Katie Loftus ‘22 scored the first and only goal of the game, leading the Raiders to their second straight state championship victory. The Raiders made Regis history finishing the season undefeated (17-0-1) and securing their third state championship in four years.

LEADING OFF ELEVATE 03

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DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

RJ STUDENTS HEAR A NEW BEAT

by Grant Barnes ‘23 and Oheneba Osei-Fordwuo ‘25

OF SCHOOL SPIRIT

T

Through the screams of excitement erupting from the RJ student section, you can make out their accompaniment: the newly created St. Kaggwa Drumline. During the most intense moments of the game when everyone’s hearts are beating loudly, the fiercest beats you hear come from these drummers, who keep the rhythm of enthusiasm alive in the crowd.

Dr. Leann He, Regis Jesuit music teacher, brought together a group of seven students to start a new tradition. They wanted to pay homage to St. Andrew Kaggwa, a Ugandan Catholic martyr who served as a bandmaster for 15 other drummers. She decided to establish the brand-new drumline in his name. Having taken part in her school’s pit band and drumline as a high schooler, she couldn’t help but spread the joy from her experiences with the current Regis Jesuit students.

“When I was in high school, I loved being part of the drumline because it was the most fun place to be on a Friday,” said Dr. He. “[It is] just one of my fondest memories. I really wanted to bring that fun culture to Regis.”

After Dr. He’s intensive drumline camp over the summer, students like Isabelle Zuick ‘24 were prepared and excited to

04 ELEVATE DRUMLINE

play in the drumline in front of the crowds at Regis Jesuit football games. For Zuick, it was especially cool having missed opportunities like this during hybrid learning.

“The game was definitely a blast, and it was great to get a feel of a Regis Jesuit football game, as well as playing for one when we couldn’t get that experience last year,” she said.

The first varsity football game was only the opening act for the St. Kaggwa drumline, who’ve been heard performing during lunches, at the fall music festival and homecoming pep rally, and even at other schools bringing the red and white school spirit with them.

Freshman Andrew Bilyeu ‘25 already had some experience with the snare drum but was excited to get to play with other students at school events.

Dr. He and the group of students hope that the drumline will grow into a full marching band, playing more live performances at even more school events. They encourage all students to join if the beats of the drumline move them.

“Drumline has been a fantastic experience,” he said. “I would recommend it to anyone who even has a remote interest in learning.”

If you are interested in contributing to school spirit through this exciting new club, please contact Dr. He for more information.

“YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO PLAY THE DRUMS! JUST BE WILLING TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW, AND ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE.” - ISABELLA ZUICK ‘24

JOIN THE ST. KAGGWA DRUMLINE:

contact the performing arts department

AEXPERIENCING FIRST & A LAST HOMECOMING FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A SENIOR C Commentary by Joey Paolucci ‘22

Cut to the flashing neon lights, the vibrant explosions of sound. A pulsing, thriving crowd exclaiming songs from 2013.

A mosh pit of twisting, swirling, twirling dancers screaming Neil Diamond at the top of their lungs. This is Homecoming, the famed nostalgia trip where time and movement is suddenly distorted by the bass and electric reverb of the DJ’s anthem.

To the some fortunate enough to experience this before, the event was still a special one, the first since the onset of COVID. For me, though, it was my first Homecoming Dance, a chance to feel

minuscule in a gargantuan gymnasium crowd of luminescent figures running on adrenaline. The crowded dance floor was intimidating for some, brimming with resentment, reminiscence, or just jumbling closeness. But it was natural for others; the dance floor is their forte. Strangers an hour ago were new friends by the end.

For seniors, this was the last opportunity to experience this important fragment of their senior year. Absorbing themselves in the drowning sound and the whiplash will be one of the last touching moments of their odyssey, navigating the sea of familiar and unfamiliar faces.

Rhythmically warping themselves on the reverberating floor, they realize for a split second that this is it. This is their grand finale. Not right now, but it’s rapidly shaping in front of their eyes. Orchestrated by themselves and the many that have formed them on the way to this moment.

It’s a symphony, a grand orchestra whose instruments are played masterfully by their friends, family, and the ones at the back of the room. Those whose strings have united into an emotional concerto of bitterness and bliss. A grandiose echo with shattering vibrato, a crashing crescendo: the senior year.

HOMECOMING ELEVATE 05

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ANNIKA PARRISH ‘22

”

ZACHARY BILLINGS ‘24

“

I was emergency evacuated while on a rafting trip in UTAH. On our last night at camp, we had a rainstorm hit us hard. I was sharing a tent with my dad and our rain fly was broken so as it was pouring rain, I was outside trying to fix it. Within 10 min of the rain starting there was 6 inch deep mud puddles and waterfalls coming over the edge of cliffs. We had to emergency evacuate our campsite and leave everything there (we eventually got our stuff back from another group). As we motored the 2 hours to the boat ramp it was pouring rain and lightning was everywhere. We made it out safely but it was an experience to remember.

I WAS A VOLUNTEER FIELD BIOLOGIST FOR TWO MONTHS IN PUNTA ISLITA, COSTA RICA. I STUDIED WILD SCARLET MACAW POPULATIONS AND GO TO SEE TWO BABY CHICKS FLEDGE FROM THEIR NESTS.

“

KAREN TOCHIMANI ‘23 Over the summer, my family and I went to MEXICO, PUEBLA and BACALAR. While we were in Mexico we got to spend a lot of time visiting new places especially in Bacalar. Visiting a lot of beaches and places were tourists can visit and spending time with the family. In Puebla, my family and i got to visit stores, historical places like the pyramids that Mexico City had and getting to see friends and other family relatives again.

JENNA PATTERSON ‘24

”

Me and my family went to CALIFORNIA and did a road trip up the coast from LA to SAN FRANCISCO. We visited multiple colleges on the way including Pepperdine, Cal Poly, Stanford, and Cal Berkeley.

06 ELEVATE RJ STUDENT SUMMER

AMY BECHTEL ‘22

“

Over the summer, I worked at Magness Adventure Camp at PEACEFUL VALLEY SCOUT RANCH. I was a camp counselor working with Cub Scouts ages 5-11. I enjoyed belting campfire songs late into the night, shooting a BB gun, hanging out with the staff, teaching six year olds the importance of nature, and getting dusty playing Gaga Ball.

This summer is one I never want to forget!

RAIDERS ROAM HOW STUDENTS

by Serena Nguyen ‘22

WITHOUT AS MANY TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS and with the growing vaccination rate, Raiders took full advantage of the summer and visited some fun destinations.

SPENT THE SUMMER

“ “

MAX PALOUCCI ‘24

I went to a summer camp in MAINE called camp Waziyatah for a 4 weeks. We did all kinds of stuff like climbing, tubing, waterski, horseback all kinds of stuff. I was in the oldest boys cabin as a camper called the Ridge. There were 7 of us and 2 counselors. It was a blast and would definitely recommend.

BEN WOJEWSKI ‘24

I took numerous trips across the East Coast over the Summer: DELAWARE, MARYLAND, WASHINGTON D.C., NORTH CAROLINA, PENNSYLVANIA, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK.

MADDIE NUTTAL ‘25

“ “

LAURYN GLENN ‘22

I went to a humanities program at XAVIER UNIVERSITY IN NEW ORLEANS for a month learning about African American history, how to research, and other subjects. Every weekend we took a field trip to somewhere new. In this picture we went to a museum. I made a lot of new friends that I keep in contact with to this day.

SAM MORTON ‘24 The Regis baseball team went to FLORIDA early to vacation in ANNA MARIA ISLAND before their tournament in SARASOTA.

“

Over the summer I went to HILTON HEAD, SC. I celebrated my birthday there on June 18th.

For my birthday I went parasailing with my cousins! I got to go twice!

It was the best experience, and I definitely recommend it. While there in Hilton Head, my family and I biked to the beach every day and swam in our rental house’s mini pool. After staying there for a week, I went with my mom, my dad, and my sister to our mountain house for the whole month of July. We did skateboarding camp and volleyball camp up there each for a week. It was so much fun!

”

SOPHIA SIMOES ‘25

This summer, I went to the ANDEAN MOUNTAINS IN COLOMBIA with my family to go birdwatching. Colombia has the most bird species out of any country, totaling at almost two thousand out of ten thousand bird species in the world. The country is also known for its exotic flowers, especially the orchid. We estimate that we saw somewhere between 200-300 types of birds on a 10-day trip. The West Andes of Colombia are a tropical rainforest climate that is very habitable for birds. My dad has taught me about birds and photography since I was five years old.

RJ STUDENT SUMMER ELEVATE 07

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ATHREE TALE OF THREE CITIES DIFFERENT REGIS JESUIT EMPLOYEES RECALL SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

08 ELEVATE FEATURE

by Mason Harris ‘24 Photo by Lenny Osuna

I

IT WAS 8:47 A.M. ON A TUESDAY MORNING. The

sun shone brightly over the towering New York City skyline. The Empire State Building and the World Trade Center served as pillars in a dense city, hovering above the clouds. Halfway across the country, dawn had just begun. The glow of sunlight ricocheted off the Rocky Mountains. It was an ordinary, alluring Tuesday morning in Denver, Colorado. President David Card ‘87 sat patiently at the traffic light, prepared to turn onto South Lewiston Way from South Parker Road. The light lingered red. Time stood at a standstill. Vehicles rumbled past his car.

At long last, the red light vanished.

The radio’s usual songs played in the background as he drove towards Regis Jesuit High School. Card’s sense of normalcy shortly dissipated as the cable news broadcast interrupted the music.

“THIS JUST IN, YOU ARE LOOKING AT A VERY DISTURBING LIVE SHOT THERE... WE HAVE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS THIS MORNING THAT A PLANE HAS CRASHED INTO ONE OF THE TOWERS OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER,” THE RADIO SAID.

FEATURE ELEVATE 09

ELEVATE FALL

A TALE OF THREE CITIES CONTINUED Card, like many, believed that a small single-engine plane had accidentally struck the towers.

“It seemed like there was confusion - and I think appropriately so - when things were unfolding,” Card said.

At that moment, the World Trade Center had unknowingly entered the last 102 minutes of its existence. The time dwindled, yet few knew the towers were in danger of collapsing.

“The day was surreal. It was exceedingly difficult to comprehend the scope of destruction and meaning of what had happened,” Card said.

Halfway across the globe, Fr. Thomas Rochford ‘64 had just moved into the Jesuit Headquarters in Rome, Italy, and his new position in their communications office. It was 3:00 p.m., and his shift was nearly done.

“It was an ordinary morning, and the last thing I was thinking of was the United States, and even

10 ELEVATE FEATURE

comes in. I was speechless,” he less, some big attack. continued. “There’s a So, I was sitting there frustration because quietly, working. I you feel the fragility wouldn’t say it was a of life, and because I boring day, but I was couldn’t do anything, trying to get in my as I was so far away.” office and set up,” he During this time, said.

Mr. Jordan Jones, Suddenly, he heard S.J., was attending his phone ring. He the United States walked over to his Naval Academy in desk and realized the Annapolis, Maryland. caller was unknown.

He had enrolled a Without hesitation, he few months prior answered. The voice to the impending urged him to check devastation at the the news, without World Trade Center. further explanation.

In the moments He walked across preceding the attack, the room to his he had just entered television. By the chemistry class. His time he checked the instructor, who was news, the damage formerly an Air Force to the first tower Captain, ran into the was extensive. lab with the news.

Smoke billowed out Both towers of the into the bright sky World Trade Center and debris covered had been struck, the streets. People and the nation was watched from afar as under attack. The the first responders cadets were stunned. scrambled to save The campus went those still in the from calm to alert, towers. The camera enacting Force abruptly panned away Protection Condition from the streets and Delta (FPCON DELTA), up to the sky. A plane a military protocol for flew directly into the terrorist attacks that second tower. prevents anyone from “All of a sudden, entering or vacating this other plane the facility. Patrol squadrons were immediately activated

“WE KNEW THAT THE WORLD WAS CHANGING WHEN THAT HAPPENED. THERE WAS THIS SHARPENED SENSE OF PURPOSE.”

to guard the campus.

“We knew that the world was changing when that happened,” he continued. “There was this sharpened sense of purpose. We knew instantly that something was going to happen. We did not know exactly what, but there was this sharpened sense of commitment.”

There was consistent concern among military officials that the United States Naval Academy was a primary target of the terrorists.

They, alongside the public, were heavily prepared for an additional attack for the following three months.

On that day, a nation stood still as it watched one of the deadliest terrorist attacks ever.

The tragedy caused extensive destruction, claiming nearly 3,000 lives in the process.

For Jones, the tragedy forever changed the United States and its people.

“In a lot of ways, America lost its innocence.”

THE WIDESPREAD INFLUENCE

by Mason Harris ’24 and Oheneba Osei-Fordwuo ‘25

Imtiaz, among others, noted a heightened sense of unity, a commonness of purpose, and widespread patriotism. Stephen and many of his colleagues re-enlisted into the military following the attacks as they felt obligated to protect their nation.

“They all re-enlisted, and they took this battle, and I worked up until a certain point, and then I left law enforcement and went overseas and did my part,” Stephen said. “No one ever shied Imriaz Stephen has served as away from what they Regis Jesuit’s Security Department had to do. None of them Head for three years. Photography

by Leonardo Osuna ‘24 were scared or thwarted by what happened.

They were ready for the as the war there – the challenge.” longest in the United People watched in One unfortunate States’ history – came horror as the attacks result of the September to a messy end. Imtiaz of September 11th, 11th attacks was Stephen, a former police 2001, ravaged New widespread and prevalent officer and soldier, and York City, Washington, xenophobia. Biases led the current head of D.C., and Shanksville, to the spread of false security at Regis Jesuit Pennsylvania. Nearly stereotypes across the High School, still feels the 3,000 people perished, United States. effects. and 22,000 more were “There was a certain “We went in to severely injured. Within amount of hatred that stabilize a nation and to the week, the United increased towards people help people out. I have States launched a war that were thought to be against those responsible friends that spilled their Arabs or from the Middle blood in that country. for the attacks, which East. I think there were They died for what is included an invasion of one or two people that a noble cause, as not Afghanistan. Now, 20 were killed innocently just everybody steps up to the years later, the same based on the color of their people watched in horror plate to go over there,” skin,” Stephen said.

Stephen said.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks,

P

Regis Jesuit Employees explain the influences since the attacks

Following the attacks of September 11th, 2001, people felt angry, vulnerable, and confused, with some scapegoating minorities in their communities, especially Muslims. John Buxton, a counselor at Regis Jesuit, saw this hatred plague his community.

“We’re not necessarily in tune with those that are raised differently than we are.

People want to blame someone for the bad things that happen. That reaction was against everything that I believed in, in terms of revenge, the scapegoating, the intolerance, and those didn’t reflect my values,” Buxton said.

For many interviewed, the initial distrust within communities is connected to today’s widespread polarization.

They remember a time when political parties came together on many issues, but today, they often remain deeply divided. For Bernie Sauer ‘97, a music teacher at Regis Jesuit, this divide has been an unfortunate effect of the last 20 years.

“That was the start of what’s very polarizing today. I think we are the most polarized I’ve ever

seen in my lifetime, and I wish we could meet more in the middle on several issues,” Sauer said.

In the aftermath of the recent withdrawal from Afghanistan, news outlets covered the impacts on groups like Afghan women, children, and translators who had worked for the United States military, indicating a small but perhaps important attempt to understand the perspectives of minoritized groups across the globe.

For Mrs. Marianne Buehler, the unity that would solve these problems is still attainable. “I feel like we’re quick to cast judgment and blame instead of saying, ‘What can we do to make it better?’ On September 11th, we felt like we were neighbors, we were family, we were brothers and sisters together, and we don’t have that anymore. If we put people at the center of every decision we make, we can’t ever make a wrong decision,” she said.

FEATURE ELEVATE 11

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WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER...

ABOUT THAT DAY? TEACHERS & STAFF SHARE THEIR REFLECTIONS ABOUT 9-11

“I was asleep, and I remember my mom waking me up and explaining what had happened.

I was in sixth grade, and we had a prayer service at school.”

MARIA LYNCH

“I remember walking across campus and the news reported there were planes that were not on the ground yet.

We didn’t know how many planes were still out there that were being turned into bombs. Where else was going to be hit? I remember running into my younger brother who was bound and determined, he was enlisting in the military to defend our country.”

VIRGINIA JUSTIS

“INSTEAD OF GOING OVER MY LESSON PLANS FOR THE DAY, WE SAT AND WATCHED THE NEWS IN CLASS. IT WAS ALL A BIT UNREAL. IS THIS HOW PEOPLE FELT WHEN PEARL HARBOR WAS ATTACKED?” BILL KEHRMAN

“I remember the teacher turning on the TV and watching the second plane hit, and the collective realization that this was not an accident.

I remember seeing my teacher being vulnerable for the first time and then the school organizing a blood donation drive given our proximity to the city.”

ALLISON KOPP

“The images from the news are burned into my memory... the south tower fell and all hopes of the people escaping the tower crushed my very being. I sobbed... I feared that Denver would be next.”

ERIN CASSIDYCERNANEC

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT DAY, WHAT WORD COMES TO MIND?

SACRIFICE

CHAOS EVIL SORROW CONFUSION

VULNERABLE ANGER TRAGIC

FEAR ANXIETY LOSS

HORROR REVENGE

DEVASTATING

00 ELEVATE FEATURE 12 SECTION

“I remember turning on the TODAY Show while I got ready for work and seeing that they were reporting on the first plane hitting the towers.

While I watched, the second plane struck the other tower.”

CHARISSE BRODERICK KING

“I WAS REHEARSING THE MUSIC FOR THE MASS WHEN I HEARD THAT THE FIRST TOWER HAD FALLEN. THE TONE OF THE MASS CHANGED, BUT I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE GATHERED TOGETHER IN PRAYER.” KAREN WUERTZ My 1st period class in middle school was social studies. We watched a series called ‘Channel 1’ and we saw... the cars abandoned on the street, people screaming, running, coughing, covering themselves. The energy surrounding the day was shock [and] disbelief.”

SHAWNA CROWE ‘08

“I remember my sisters and brothers in the family of first responders who engaged in acts of bravery and heroism to save people and many of them perished while trying to save other lives.

There were many civilians including passengers of flight 93 who also took action and sacrificed their lives to save others.” IMTIAZ STEPHEN

I remember being glued to the screen all day, praying, and getting a new report every hour about who caused the tragedy. The fact was, no one really knew what was going on, and that made the historical event more horrifying.”

BERNIE SAUER ‘97

TERROR LOVESADEMPTY CHANGE FAMILY GRIEF

SHOCK

SURREAL

DEFENSE

UNCERTAINTY

TERROR NUMB DISBELIEF SECTION ELEVATE 00 FEATURE 13

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TIMELINE OF ATTACKS 8:46

THE LASTING EFFECTS

OF 9-11

IMPACT ON HEALTH

PTSD & DEPRESSION

Hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center

9:03

18%

OF THOSE CLOSEST TO THE ATTACKS HAD PTSD SYMPTOMS

PTSD rates rose sharply after the events of 9/11. The World Trade Center Registry tracked mental health in victims and responders of the attacks. About 8% of those surveyed showed severe symptoms of PTSD. This number was worse for the responders and residents near the attacks.

A second hijacked flight, United Airlines Flight 175, hits the South Tower of the World Trade Center

9:37

AVIATION & TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT THE TSA WAS CREATED to protect the country’s transportation systems while still allowing people to travel freely.

10:03

Photos from google free use

14 ELEVATE FEATURE

Many of those involved have developed health conditions such as cancer, aerodigestive disorders, and mental illness. According to the World Trade Center Health Program, 3,439 responders ot their program have died since the attacks.

CHANGES IN SECURITY

American Airlines Flight 77, also seized by Al Qaeda, strikes the Pentagon.

After a struggle between the passengers and the hijackers, United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a field in Southern Pennsylvania.

PHYSICAL HEALTH RAMIFICATIONS

Travellers stand in a securty line at Denver International Airport on October 16, 2021. Photo by Jacob Gold ‘23

SINCE THE EVENTS OF 9/11, there have been many changes to security in airports and transportation overall. Security is far more strict today than it was before the attacks.

AUGUST 2021 TROOPS WITHDRAWL HATE AGAINST THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY

THE “NEVER ENDING WAR” COMES TO AN END

by Parker Gillen ‘23

1,617%

HATE CRIMES AGAINST MUSLIMS HAVE RISEN GREATLY FROM 2000-2001

Attacks against the muslim community have included mosques being burned down, death threats, and victims being attacked or held at gunpoint. 80% of Muslims said they don’t feel safe in the US anymore, according to a survey by Hatem Baznian.Hate crime rates continue to fluctuate. In 2016, the FBI has cataloged 307 hate crimes against muslims. The number of hate crimes has declined since then.

OPPONENTS OF THE PROPOSED Islamic cultural centre near ground zero demonstrate in lower Manhattan, New York, Saturday, September 11, 2010. ( Alejandra Villa/Newsday/MCT)

FULL BODY SCANNERS SHOE REMOVAL & LIQUIDS RULE TRAVELLERS ARE NOW required to remove their shows while going through security, and cannot bring large volumes of liquid on planes.

SOME TRAVELLERS ARE REQUIRED to undergo a full scan of their body to check for hidden items on their person.

COVID-19 SECURITY MASK MANDATES have complicated efforts to identify passengers as they enter airports.

In the past few months, the Taliban has taken total control of Afghanistan’s internal and external government, shortly after President Biden withdrew U.S. troops from the nation. Over the course of two months U.S. Troops withdrew from Afghanistan after a 20-year occupation. Evacuation processes removed tens of thousands of civilians from the country, allowing the Taliban to regain control with unexpected speed. As a broad, diverse community, Our students have developed varying opinions on the conflict throughout its duration.

“When you spend two trillion dollars to get absolutely nothing, it’s better to leave rather than continue digging yourself a deeper hole,” Ashton Goering ‘23, a student at Regis Jesuit, said. “It’s a waste of time, money, and lives.”

According to The Washington Post, a total of 2.261 trillion dollars were spent to support the war in Afghanistan, which ultimately ended in the Taliban takeover. The newspaper estimates the American death count in Afghanistan at 2,352.

The estimated amount of Afghan military and civilians is estimated at 113,245. Clayton Scarth ’23, a player on the varsity soccer team at Regis Jesuit, focuses more on the conclusion of the war than on the war itself.

“While I do believe it was good that U.S. Troops were evacuated, Biden could have done a better job evacuating civilians,” he said.

According to USA Today, since

the Taliban seized control of the capital in Kabul, more than 82,000 people have evacuated from Afghanistan to date. After a bombing at the Kabul International Airport which killed over 60 Afghans and at least 12 US soldiers, the U.S. halted civilian evacuation as the Taliban took control of the airport.

Approximately 1,500 Americans were still in Afghanistan when evacuations ended.

Macklin Gifford ’23, a student at Regis Jesuit, believes that the occupation of Afghanistan by the United States was a positive influence.

He added that, during the U.S. occupation, “women had more opportunities to be able to get an education.”

In 2017, the Afghanistan Government while supported by the U.S., reported that as many as 39% of its 9.3 million school children were female. In 2001, before U.S. occupation began in the region, only 12.6% of students were female, signaling a significant increase in educational equity over time.

The events that took place over the past few months are unexplainably tragic. The war has taken a toll on many people, and the situation looks dire. But it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a future for Afghanistan. For it is Regis Jesuits mission to become Men and Women with and for others. And it is our duty to push our nation forward, and overcome dire challenges.

FEATURE ELEVATE 15

ELEVATE FALL

PUSHING FOR PREVENTION

by Jacob Gold ‘23

TCHD AND RJ WORK TOGETHER TO STOP COVID-19

A

After the Tri-County Health Department’s recent reintroduction of mask mandates in schools throughout the area, many students at Regis Jesuit are left wondering what the future holds in terms of COVID-19 restrictions.

When might mask mandates be lifted? Should I get vaccinated, and will they be required for students in the future? What was the point of vaccinations if masks are mandated anyway?

“The feedback has been mixed,” said Melissa Sager, the policy and intergovernmental affairs manager at Tri-County Health Department. “Ideally, we would not have to have a mandate.

In public health, we don’t take that measure lightly.”

Sager works closely with community leaders to address public health issues, which means she receives regular

16 ELEVATE MASKS & VACCINES

feedback on things like mask mandates and vaccination pushes.

According to Sager, one of the chief complaints that parents and students alike have had throughout this pandemic relate to mental health.

“There’s no evidence that shows that masks negatively impact mental health, but we do know that interruptions to learning and routine negatively impact mental health,” she said.

Regardless of the mental health impacts created by these interruptions, many still wonder when mask mandates might be lifted. According to Sager, there isn’t an exact number that determines health policy.

“We’re looking at several data points but also

recommendations from experts like the CDC or the American Academy of Pediatrics,” she said.

“We’re also talking to our schools’ leaders and asking what they’re seeing in their own classrooms.”

Right now, the CDC recommends universal maskwearing in any region with high transmission rates.

Some people are frustrated with the mandate after such a strong push for vaccination.

“It’s a bit of a sticky situation. We all got vaccinated so that we wouldn’t have to wear masks, and then they required it anyway,” Regis Jesuit junior Lucas Smith ‘23 said.

Rates of vaccination are a data point that Tri-County monitors and tries to increase when deciding on regulations for the area, but they currently aren’t high enough for mask requirements to be

“VACCINES ARE THE NUMBER ONE WAY OUT OF THIS, AND THEY’RE MORE NECESSARY IN HIGH-RISK SETTINGS.”

lifted.

Some might suggest that the natural next step to protecting students is to create a vaccination mandate, but Sager says that requiring the vaccine isn’t within Tri-County’s jurisdiction. Instead, vaccine requirements in schools are set by the state health department.

Even though they can’t impose requirements on vaccinations, both Tri-County Health and Regis Jesuit are taking important steps to encourage people to get vaccinated on their own accord using a variety of means.

“One of the biggest things is making the vaccine as easily accessible as possible. We make it very easy to get the vaccine by placing clinics at events or offering incentives to get it,” said Sager.

The other approach is educating the public. “There’s lots of communication.

We address concerns and answer questions people have about the vaccine proactively,” she said.

Tri-County Health and the state health department have spread the word through guidance documents, social media posts, and billboards to encourage vaccinations throughout Colorado.

Kelli Lotito, the campus safety director at Regis Jesuit, has played a pivotal role in implementing school health measures throughout the pandemic. She says that the school has taken similar measures to help with getting the community vaccinated.

One method of making the vaccine more available was to bring a mobile vaccine clinic to the campus during a Friday afternoon football game.

“It’s really a partnership, and it gives us the ability

to work with the community to provide the site for the clinic to be right there,” says Lotito.

The school is also taking steps to provide more information to people about vaccines.

“There was a nice newscast in the school announcements about vaccines, and in our parent communications, we’ve listed information about vaccination sites,” says Lotito.

The current student vaccination rate at Regis Jesuit is 71.7%.

Although the majority of Regis Jesuit students are protected, it remains important to slow the spread of disease with maskwearing and continuing to push for greater rates of vaccination.

Tri-County’s Sager said the latter is the key to more freedom, especially in places like schools with so much interaction.

“Vaccines are the number one way out of this, and they’re more necessary in high-risk settings.”

AS OF OCTOBER 29, 2021,

Artwork by Dani Mendez

ACCORDING TO THE MAYO CLINIC,

72.0% 57.9% OF REGIS STUDENTS ARE VACCINATED

OF AMERICANS ARE FULLY VACCINATED

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR COVID-19 OR FLU VACCINES? VISIT VACCINES.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION MASKS & VACCINES ELEVATE 17

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MENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES: A LOOK INTO THE HOPES AND

by Jose Gutierrez-Najera ‘22

STRENGTHS FOUND WITHIN SELF DISCOVERY

T

Three point one percent of children ages three to seventeen years old are diagnosed with depression.

Seven point one percent of children in this age range are diagnosed with anxiety.

What about those who aren’t diagnosed who might be struggling in silence? Anyone who is going through depression or anxiety can hide it by putting a smile on their face without other people noticing, and people with mental health problems struggle to open up because it is often viewed as a choice. On the contrary, it’s not something you can choose just as your body doesn’t choose to get sick. You want to be strong yet something inside or in the environment you’re around affects you regardless.

world changed due to interior and exterior pressures. He started losing confidence and became a danger to himself.

He felt lost, like there was too much to live up to and so much to be insecure about in today’s society with the seemingly perfect lifestyles in social media. That affects the way one views onself.

“THE BEST WAY TO HELP SOMEONE GET THROUGH MENTAL ILLNESS IS TO HELP THEM FIND BEAUTY IN THEIR OWN LIFE.” - JEFF HUGHES ‘22

“That’s part of the issue: it’s that people don’t realize it’s something that’s solvable, something you can get past, that it’s something you can get over, and it’s not necessarily permanent,” Jeff Hughes ‘22, a Regis Jesuit student, said.

Despite all of this, Hughes tells us that there are ways to cope, process, and recover from these issues, like having a creative outlet and people he can talk to and confide in.

A huge part of the process, according to Hughes, is finding the beauty in life.

Hughes is a great student and current leader of the automotive club. He started struggling with his mental health when he started high school. His way of looking at the

“The best way to help someone get through mental illness is to help them find beauty in their own life. Not anyone else’s life, not that they have to live because mom

18 ELEVATE MENTAL HEALTH

would be sad if you’re gone.

Instead, you have to live here because life is beautiful and life is deserved,” Hughes said.

COVID-19 came at the right time for Kira Cattand ‘22, a Regis Jesuit student and goalie for the Colorado Rapids and Regis Jesuit. Kira was going through a rough time prepandemic, so when the world shut down it gave her a chance to breathe. A time she was given to work on herself and assess things differently within her own life.

NEXT ISSUE LOOK FOR OUR STORY ON SOURCES OF STRENGTH, A GROUP OF DIVERSE STUDENTS AND ADULTS FROM MANY CORNERS AND CULTURES OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY, AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO EDCUATE OUR COMMUNITY.

NEEED HELP?

YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR IS HERE TO HELP AND OFFER NO JUDGMENT

REACH OUT

One of the biggest things that helped Cattand was therapy.

“Going to therapy has been the best thing for me because you just get to talk to a professional, talk to someone confidential, and know how to deal with those problems and guide you through life,” she said.

Yet one of the main issues with mental health is access to resources, ones that go beyond Safe2Tell, whose services are more frequently used for a build-up of problems when things go really bad. There needs to be resources that prevent these culminations of problems before it’s

too late.

“People think that it needs to be diagnosed for it to matter, but really I think any mental problem needs attention,” Cattand said.

Mental Health problems are different for many people.

It impacts a range of groups such as adults, kids, men, and women.

“Typically, men hold a lot in, and that’s not healthy,” said Kathryn Ames, a counselor who has worked eight years at Regis Jesuit.

Photo by Leonardo Osuna ‘24

13

%

OF TEENS AGE 12 TO 17 REPORTED EXPRIENCING AT LEAST ONE MAJOR DEPRESSIVE EPISODE (PEW RESEARCH)

Mental Health for men is worsened by them hiding their feelings based on masculinity, and fears of looking and feeling weak. In some ways, the same can be said for women.

No group is free from any of these stigmas, but, whether innately or culturally, many women tend to process things differently than men. Skills like compartmentalization and connection can be learned from all sides and groups.

“We process things differently. I think we need to learn from both and have a

balance,” Mrs. Ames said.

As for adults, it’s a whole new set of problems and stress.

Stress that includes bills, marriage, kids, and jobs. That can result from always being on the go.

Mrs. Ames emphasized that adults sometimes feel like “I can’t slow down because I gotta make the bills and I gotta buy this fancy car versus it’s okay, take your time, focus on yourself. Because what does it matter at the end? What really matters is that you’re happy and knowing you’re enough.”

It’s important for adults to take a step back and look at what they value and how that’ll be modeled for younger generations. Is it focusing on their own well-being or is it focusing on status and money?

That concept of self-care is often lost in today’s society.

Regis Jesuit High School and its loving community are in a battle for mental health. It’s not always easy to talk about; it takes immense bravery and small steps. Mental Health is different and challenging for everyone in their own way.

From the Boys Division to the Girls Division, for kids and for the faculty and staff. Whether diagnosed or not, it matters.

Actions and conversations are needed. Whether it be friends or family, be there, and take on those conversations because mental health matters. You matter.

MENTAL HEALTH ELEVATE 19

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ALOOKING FIT INTO MIND: MENTAL HEALTH

by Katherine Leaffer ‘22

OF STUDENT ATHLETES

“

“Never be ashamed of wanting to be a better you, period.”

DeMar DeRozan, 12year NBA veteran

When you are in the stands, you see the cheering crowds, the bright lights, the court, the field, and players who have worked endless hours to play.

What you do not see is the Monday afternoons at lunch where all the team captains meet in the mobiles with school counselors Kathryn Ames and Nate Moeller. On September 20, 2021, the topic of conversation was mental health of student athletes.

Captains talked about their experience with the balancing act of mental health, sports, and what was going on in the 2021 Fall Season.

According to CPR News, the teenage suicide rate has

20 ELEVATE MENTAL HEALTH

increased by 58 percent since 2016. 7.3 percent of deaths of student athletes attribute to represented by suicide, and over one-third of athletes report dealing with a mental health crisis.

“Most people with mental health issues don’t talk about it. You don’t know what they are going through,” football captain Dallas Macias ‘22 said.

There’s often a stigma around checking in, too. According to Live Science, one in five teenagers have a mental health condition and are not receiving the support they need.

Teens’ resources, like friends, coaches, teammates, or parents, go untapped.

Many student athletes wake up in the morning to work out or practice. Then they go to school all day.

Then it’s more training,

weightlifting, or a game, only to go home late at night, finish homework, and study. The next day, they do it all over again.

Student athletes must decide whether their social life and school work is more important than their sport.

All this comes on top of coaches, parents, and athletes’ concern about athletic records.

Regis Jesuit counselor Kathryn Ames urges a wider lens.

“Think about the infinite game; your success is not defined by your record,” she said.

These students’ wins and losses do not even make up a small portion of who they are.

What defines a person is their personality and what energy radiates off them, the energy they bring to the field and to their teammates.

“The stakes have become higher. We

JOSHUA HARVEY ‘23 takes a break between plays at the Homecoming game against Chaparral. Harvey gives it his all on and off the feild.

Photo by Arianna Morroni ‘24

have lost the love for playing. We learn through sports. Sports are just another classroom of life,” Ames said. “But now there is way more pressure.

We are all driven for these extrinsic rewards instead of intrinsic.”

Ames emphasized that sports can be a great place to learn, if we are intentional.

“Are we teaching

kids and people how to process? We live in such a fast pace and high-pressure environment. Can we teach kids how to handle things [and] how to slow down?” Ames asked.

Mental illness can be a silent epidemic in our country and educational system, but Kathryn Ames and Nate Moeller will continue to talk about it with student

athletes and inform people what sports and pressure do to teenagers’ minds and bodies.

During one of their lunchtime meetings, a Regis Jesuit golf captain asked, “What is this doing for us, the school, and the greater glory of God?” ‘This’ meaning time spent playing the game, showing up to practice,

and the relationships created with teammates and coaches.

This frame gives them, and all athletes, a way to maintain the perspective Ms. Ames encouraged. What is the end goal of playing a sport? Is it fulfilling or a chance to be a part of something greater than oneself? Is it a true passion or a place of pure fun? This is the true endzone.

EVERY COLORADO YOUTH HAS ACCESSS TO THREE FREE THERAPY SESSIONS

The Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health and partners are proud to launch I MATTER, a program that pairs youth with mental health professionals. It’s a great place to find someone to talk to for free if you’ve been feeling down or just want to make sense of your emotions.

MENTAL HEALTH ELEVATE 21

ELEVATE FALL

WILL BIKULIUS ‘22

PLAYING WITH A PASSION,

During the highschool golf state championship, Bikulius hits a shot during his second round at Colodado Springs Country Club.

JAMES LYNCH ‘22

BRINGS HIS GAME, Leaving it all on the court, Lynch celebrates a well deserved point.

JENSON DAVIS ‘22

& NICO CORRERA ‘22

lead their team through a challenging game against their opponents.

LILY CASTIGLIONE ‘22

SHOOTING HER SHOT Senior

Castiglione lines up a shot after a penalty corner in the first round of playoffs against the Liberty Lancers, helping the Raiders win 5-0.

Photo by Reilly Wible ‘22.

LANEY RIDDER ‘22 CHEERING ON during

the Homecoming football game against Chaparral, Ridder was able to get the crowd excited during the fourth quarter. Photo by Chloe Simon ‘23.

22 ELEVATE SPORTS PHOTO ESSAY

HAZEL PRON ‘25 PUSHING THROUGH the defense after a srcum, Pron finds the gap in the defense and begins her run to score the try.

JOHN RETTIG ‘23

GETS PUMPED UP. Rettig encourages the team to practice how they aim to play.

ELISE HOLT ‘24

TRUDGES UP THE MOUNTAIN, keeping

the stamina all the way to the finish line.

FALL SPORTS RAIDERS WIN THE WAR -

IN THE RED ZONE

THE CROWDS HAVE RETURNED to the stands on campus. After a season of precausions and limited guests, the community gathers again to celebrate the goals and accomplishments of our student athletes. Regis Jesuit athletes were kept busy this fall, setting new goals to go after.

LOLA BUTLER ‘22

EZRA EKUBAN ‘22

EYE ON THE BALL Butler

JUMPING OVER HURDLES

sets up her serve as the varsity volleyball team takes on Valor where they won the second and third set. Photo

by Reilly Wible ‘22.

Ezra Ekuban ‘22, a star receiver for the varsity football team, plows his way through Cherry Creek defenders en-route to a first down. Photo by Chloe Simon ‘23

EXANDER CARROLL ‘23

TAKING A RUN Carroll secures the

ball in his arms as he finds the gap in the Cherry Creek Bruins defense.

Photo by Reilly Wible ‘22.

NATALIE SHELLHORN ‘24

UP TO THE PLATE Shellhorn battles against Ponderosa.

The Raiders faught hard this season, admist having a tough schedule. They started the season with a win over Mullen, giving them lots of motivation. The small team carried great resilency and energy.

SPORTS PHOTO ESSAY ELEVATE 23

ELEVATE FALL

WHEN THE RELIEF AND ADRENALINE MIX AFTER A RACE, an intoxicating feeling

THE GOALIE BEHIND THE SHUTOUTS

by Emily Bradac ‘23

With ten shutouts in a 14 game season, MaryKate Berg ‘23 is a force to be reckoned with in the goal cage. Her work ethic and dedication to the sport were clearly visible in her 92% save percentage this year.

“Six out of seven days I was doing field hockey for two hours,” Berg said in reference to her past summer field hockey schedule. “I have to push myself to be my best all the time.”

Berg started playing field hockey as a freshman because it was one of the few sports at Regis Jesuit with a beginner’s camp. After spending the majority of tryouts defending the net, she realized she had a passion for goal tending. Berg continued playing due to her love for the game and the team.

“It’s just fun. I love being on a team and working towards a goal together as a group,” Berg said. “Field Hockey allows you to let out stress and do some slide

24 ELEVATE SPORTS PROFILES

tackles.”

Although she is reaping the success of her skill, it hasn’t always been easy.

COVID-19 made it difficult to balance school, sports, and a social life. Berg struggled to stay on top of things and even considered quitting field hockey last year.

“It felt like such a hard season, especially with COVID,” Berg said. “I just felt like I was drowning.”

In the end, it was the big wins against top-tier competition as well as the team interactions that helped her get through the difficulties of the year.

The 4-0 victory over Creek mid-season and the state championship game were both highlights of her sophomore season.

“State was one good thing that happened. I can cherish that memory and title throughout high school and the rest of my life,” Berg said.

By Grace Willer ‘25

Varsity Field Hockey goalie MaryKate Berg describes her love for the sport through the highs and the lows of the season

THE RACE DOESN’T STOP UNTIL YOU CROSS YOUR FINISH LINE

SPORTS PROFILES

was a stress fracture until halfway through the season! I just kept running on it, which is created, and that’s why was definitely hard runners keep racing. Molly mentally and physically,” Kate McCloskey ’22 very McCloskey said. recently committed to run at Setbacks and injuries St. Olaf College in Minnesota. are some of athletes’ For all four years of high darkest times. When school, McCloskey went to McCloskey found out the state cross country meet. about this injury she In the spring she does track. didn’t cope with it alone.

She runs the 800m race and McCloskey had plenty sometimes runs the mile of support and love, or two-mile. McCloskey has which made the recovery some serious dedication to be a little less painful. running competitively for this Her dedication was long, but the journey has not more powerful than always been smooth sailing. the setback, leaving The emotional ups and downs McCloskey to come back are what made McCloskey as stronger both mentally disciplined and successful as and physically. she is today.

As she continues Athletics are taken very to move on from high seriously at Regis Jesuit, school into college there especially when you are on are so many things to varsity. The trainings are long look forward to, but at and hard. “On average we the same time this next run 25-30 miles a week,” step can be frightening.

McCloskey said, “and then “I’m excited to just Saturday is usually a meet.” take the next step in This competitive and my training and really intense environment can dig deep and find what seem like a lot, so it’s no works best for me in my surprise that this training body,” McCloskey said, and competition can lead to “And being able to run serious injuries. “Sophomore not just for myself but for year I developed a stress the rest of the team.” fracture and didn’t realize it

DAVOD FLAIG

When asked about his recent trip to Kansas for a cross country meet, David Flaig ‘24 said “I REALLY LIKE EVERYONE ON

THE TEAM, AND THE GUYS ON THERE ARE ALL GREAT.” The trip itself

was tough. There was no air conditioning on the bus and it was really hot, but we all bonded. Coach Ben’s family graciously allowed us to help fundraise and pay for the trip to Kansas. Without their help, we wouldn’t have had access to the KU athletics tour that we were able to do there.”

Story and photo by Joaquin Salazar Díaz ‘24

JOAQUIN SALAZAR DIAZ

“MY MOM TOOK ME RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL, AND I JUST SAT THERE WATCHING HER,” JOAQUIN SALAZAR DIAZ ‘24 SAID. “She was taking

classes at Colorado Ballet, which is the biggest dance institution here in Denver. She said there was some sort of spark in my eye when I was watching her dance...I had just finished soccer and I was thinking about quitting. She said, ‘Hey Joaquin let’s go to movement class.’ I thought I was going to learn how to backflips and the splits or something like that.

We pull up to a building with a giant sign that said Colorado Ballet, and I look at my mom and she gives me a face like the one Thanos gives Gamora before she is thrown over the cliff. I was like what is this, I thought this was movement class, but it was a a really beginner class. She had to almost drag me in to that class, but by the end I was smiling.”

Story and Photo by David Flaig ‘24

“I WAS DIFFERENT. I WAS GOAL DRIVEN. I CARED ABOUT MY FUTURE, AND FOUND NAAJI MY LOVE FOR THE PATTERSON and Photo by GAME. GROWING UP I Story Jack Rainsberger ‘23 WAS BETTER AT BASKETBALL, BUT WITH FOOTBALL, I LIKE THE TEAM, LEADING AND ALL THAT. I GOT BETTER AT FOOTBALL OVER TIME. IT WAS THE LOVE. I LOVE FOOTBALL MORE THAN BASKETBALL.”

SPORTS PROFILES ELEVATE 25

ELEVATE FALL

“THERE IS A PLACE IN THE THEATER CLUB FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO JOIN.” SOREN FREUND ‘22

“WHEN I AM ON STAGE, I AM THE CLOSEST AND SIMULTANEOUSLY THE FARTHEST I’VE EVER BEEN TO BECOMING MYSELF.” FOREST RESZKA ‘22

26 ELEVATE MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

MUCH ADO ABOUT REGIS JESUIT THEATRE CLUB RETURNS IN FULL FORCE SOMETHING

by Cianna Canning ‘23 and Rachel Hilty ‘23

R

Regis Jesuit’s performance of Much Ado About Nothing, a Shakespearean comedy that centers on the silly mistakes humans make, is a show like nothing anyone has seen before, creating an entirely new world for the same beloved stories and characters of the original play. How did these creative ideas come to be? The magic comes from the minds of Regis Jesuit’s own students.

Instead of keeping the original setting of the play, the Regis Jesuit theatre community put a creative twist on it, changing the setting from Italy during Shakespearean times to 1940s New York with a Film Noir (black and white) style.

Another thing that makes the play unique is that it is entirely student-run.

Students voted for leaders to make the decisions about the play and how they want to produce it, the students picked the play, and they even chose their inspirations for how they want to present Shakespeare’s work.

Theatre is Regis Jesuit’s biggest

club with over 100 people, a large percentage of whom won’t even make an appearance on stage. Although actors are a big part, there are so many other roles besides acting when putting on a show. There are people who build sets, students in charge of tech, a group who does sound and music, individuals that work on costumes, and even a person assigned to be the expert on the 1940s to make sure the play stays historically accurate.

increases as the play’s debut creeps closer.

Co-president of the theater club, Soren Freund ‘22, will be playing Friar Francis. His leadership role also makes him very involved in the play’s production and knows well the diversity of skills needed to put on the play.

When they aren’t devoting all their energy to the play, some theatre club members turn their attention to creating the Regis Jesuit Zecond Floor Haunted House in time for Halloween, which spooked students, staff, and families in the Z Theatre from October 27th through 29th.

“There is a place in the theater club for anyone who wants to join,” Freund said.

The large size of the club is quite impressive, too, considering how timeconsuming the commitment to theater is. Those working on the play spend several hours per week outside of school rehearsing, and the commitment

Theatre Club isn’t the only group involved in putting on the play; many other parts of campus contribute to the production, too. The Robotics Club helps make sets for the play, Graphic Design class makes posters for publicity, some art classes get the opportunity to help paint the set, and the Pit Band plays live music, something rarely done at other schools.

With the help of over 100 club members over the course of four months and many hours of work, Much Ado About Nothing premiered October 15th to delighted audiences. It ran through the 24th. Keep your eyes out for the next big thing from our fearless thespians.

ELEVATE FALL DURING FRESHMEN DAY OF FUN, Cornerstone Leader Sullivan McNeill ‘23 participated in a game of dodge ball. “I enjoyed bonding with the freshman and helping them connect with each other. I enjoy being a Cornerstone leader because I like being able to maintain a connection with the freshman and watch them gain confidence as they go through the school year,” McNeill said. Photo by Yearbook Staff

WELCOME INTRODUCTION TO FRESHMEN YEAR CLASS OF 2025

by Bridget Fitzpatrick ‘23

T

These past two years have been anything but easy.

Students left school in 2020 expecting to see each other again in a few weeks.

Those few weeks turned into months and before we knew it, two classes had graduated and we had welcomed two new ones.

On top of pushing through online school and staying connected with people, our freshmen class had to deal with high school

28 ELEVATE COMPASS DAY

admissions, eighth-grade graduation, and a transition to a new school. Thankfully, the students and teachers here were more than ready to welcome the incoming students and make their first time on campus as smooth as possible.

Compass Day is an ongoing tradition at Regis Jesuit that welcomes the freshmen and introduces them to fellow students, teachers, and the school.

“You get to meet all of your first friends at what I think is the best part of freshman orientation,” said Compass Day leader Claire Robertson ‘23. “[You] get to know what Regis is all about in terms of our mission and how we treat each other and what we love to do.”

leaders who discussed life at Regis Jesuit and gave them opportunities to ask any questions they had in a smaller group setting. It is a great way to meet some upperclassmen, teachers, and new friends before showing up to classes with the rest of the school.

When the freshmen arrived, they were put into groups that they would be in for the next four years.

These groups had assigned

“The students needed to feel the impression of RJ before the school year started and be taught what it means to be a Raider,”

senior leader Andrew Tolva ’22 said.

Even before students arrived on campus for Compass Day or the first day of school, school administrators offered a new part of orientation with summer luncheons.

“After last year, when we felt so disconnected from students and students felt disconnected from us and the school,” Girls Division Head Mr. Bauer said. “Mrs. Wuertz and I were brainstorming ideas on how we could connect with the incoming freshman class and let them know, ‘We know you had a hard year but you’re still going to have a great freshman year.”

These luncheons gave the students a chance to get comfortable with their new brothers and sisters before seeing everyone else on Compass Day. It turned out the luncheons had the exact effect they were hoping for. Over 75% of the freshmen class attended one of them, and the feedback was nothing but positive, including from freshman Sarah Pike who attended the first summer luncheons “I liked it a lot, it helped me to get to know people, and I met a lot of my friends now, and I got to know some upperclassmen, too,” she said.

Participating in activities like these opens opportunities for other leadership roles, but more importantly, it builds on attributes of the grad at grad and being a person with and for others.

“At first I was applying because I’m supposed to apply so I can put it on applications, but then after the experience I realized that I actually really love to be that person for someone and be with the freshmen,” said Claire Robertson. “Now I could

understand how the freshmen were feeling, and I was able to say things that I knew would have made me feel better when I was them.”

Cornerstone Leaders participate in Freshamn Day of Fun activities like dodge ball.

After talking with students and leaders, one of the best pieces of advice for future freshmen was to be yourself. It sounds so simple, but when you’re introduced to 400 other people your age, it’s easier said than done. Teenagers today have a constant fear of not fitting in or saying the wrong thing, but a lot of times this leads to acting like a completely different person than who we are. Starting at a new school should mean starting fresh and finding people who like you for you, not for who you pretend to be for the sake of sticking to the status quo.

“Once you start being your genuine self, that’s when you find other genuine people. You are wasting your time if you’re not being yourself,” said Andrew Tolva.

Compass Day only works when you participate and forget about being the person you think others want to see. We only have four years of high school, so make the most of it!

THE GREAT ONLINE STRUGGLE OF ‘24

by Ed Amponsah-Asamoah ‘24

With the introduction of COVID-19 to our world, many of our lives have shifted and adapted to combat this vicious disease. One of the many changes to our lives was how we attended school.

The sudden change presented hurdles to all students, especially the 93 percent of students who transitioned to online learning, according to the US Census Bureau.

Sophomore Leonardo Osuna ’24, who learned online all last year, struggled to focus during online classes and had issues connecting with teachers and fellow students.

“Even though they tried to help as best they could, there were times where I could not ask a question or the microphones in the class were muted,” Osuna said. “There were days where my eyes hurt from looking at a screen all day, and the classes could sometimes feel boring.”

Another prominent issue that students faced with online learning were the many distractions presented to them during class. Phones, family, and other distractions were often present during the online class periods.

“Sometimes I would take what I thought was a simple glance at my phone,” Osuna mentioned. “Then I’d realize that almost 15 minutes had gone by and that I had essentially missed a huge portion of the class.”

While online learning had its struggles, sophomore Joshua Negrete ‘24 found

that his experience of learning online had some benefits.

“My online experience was pretty relaxing last year,” Negrete said. “I got more rest as I usually woke up five minutes before class started.”

Without a proper freshman year, many students were left confused about how the school operated, where their classes were, or who the other students were.

The lack of an in-person experience transformed their sophomore year into what felt like another freshman year.

“Some challenges include just making my way around the school. I am starting to get used to it, but at the start of the school year, I was not sure where everything was,” Osuna said. “Also, it has been different having to get up and drive to the school for a normal school day. I have just been getting into a routine to be able to be on time at school every day.”

All in all, the online experience was a massive obstacle presented to Regis Jesuit as an institution and to the students.

For the class of 2024 specifically, the transition to in-person learning was a tiring process. There was limited knowledge of the whereabouts of certain things, few familiar faces, and almost no knowledge about how the school itself functions. Let’s make sure to make these transitions as smooth as possible, let’s help each other out.

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HARRY HITS IT OFF:

by Rachel Hilty ‘23 Photo by Mason Harris

STYLES SHOW MAKES ITS

Pop singer and former One Direction member Harry Styles made an entrance at the Ball Arena in downtown Denver in early September, drawing huge crowds as he performed.

I arrived in downtown Denver at 7:00, and the first thing I saw was lines everywhere. There were lines to pay for parking, lines to cross the street, lines to prove you were vaccinated, lines to get COVID tested, lines to buy merchandise, and finally, the line you’d expect: the one to get into the arena. To say the Ball Arena was crowded would be an understatement; I have been to various concerts and other events there and never have I seen a crowd quite like there was for the Harry Styles concert, and it wasn’t even supposed to start for another hour!

Although being able to go to events like concerts is a sign that we are getting back to more “normal times,” there were still some precautions that people had to take in order to make sure everyone who attended stayed safe. In order to enter the

30 ELEVATE HARRY STYLES

DEBUT IN DENVER

Ball Arena, you either had to prove were fully vaccinated or come with a negative COVID test that had been taken in the past 72 hours. Once you entered the arena everyone was required to wear a mask even if they were vaccinated. Even though wearing a mask and having to wait in two lines was slightly inconvenient, it honestly made me feel safer while attending the concert. Hopefully one day we can get back to going to concerts and events without these measures, but for now it’s nice to be able to go to a concert. Being able to see Harry perform was worth it!

At almost the exact same moment I entered the arena the opening act, Jenny Lewis started performing. Although a lot of people were not sure exactly who she was, she did an amazing job and was just the person to start off the show.

After her performance, there was a bit of a break before Harry’s started. During that time people rushed around trying to buy merch, take pictures, go to the bathroom, and buy food, all before our

main act came on.

When Harry finally did hit the stage, he made quite the entrance. People screamed so loud that some of the people around me even plugged their ears. He performed a mix of upbeat and slow songs from both his albums. During the whole set, the audience was super engaged, singing along, cheering, shining flashlights, and dancing and clapping to the beat. The whole show was very lively, and the band certainly added to that. Each member of Harry’s band brought unique energy to the show and made the concert complete.

Harry closed the show with his song “Kiwi,” my personal favorite, which he did an amazing job with. The minute the last song was over people started pouring out of the arena, trying to be first in the merch lines or going to their cars to get out of downtown, which at that point was very crowded.

I highly recommend going to one of of Harry’s live shows or going to any concert in general, now that we can do so again.

Sa brin a’s Cor ner

HEAR FROM ELEVATE MAGAZINE’S VERY OWN SABRINA VIZURRAGA AND HER OBSERVATIONS FROM AROUND OUR CAMPUS. WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU AGREE?

A SPOOKTACULAR

EVENT

THE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT PUTS ON A SPOOKY SHOW FOR HALLOWEEN

TWO CLASSES OF FRESHMEN...

SOPHOMORES AND HAZING After spending 20,000 on your education, you get to go online and experience the joys of lags and breaking up in your zoom calls. For class of 2024, this was their first year of high school. Sounds like $20,000 well spent.

What makes the fall semester of 2021 different is the two classes of freshmen.

Yes, not one, but two classes. Think about it: the class of 2024 and 2025 are experiencing the same things for the first time. Football games and Sophomore and freshmen run ons ( but really two freshmen run-ons), awkward dances that not only leave six feet of space for the holy trinity, but also the blessed mother. Now, that’s what I call a good catholic education.

UNDERCLASSMEN TRY TO SECURE HOCO DATES...

AWKWARD? The sun may be setting earlier, but there is certainly no setting on underclassmen trying to find dates.

“Are you going to King Soopers with him?” is the most romantic line I have ever heard. It’s at the core of every budding relationship and something you can hear throughout the hallways. It’s the Careless Whisper of gen z.

“You go with someone you met six weeks ago, and then you never talk to them again,” Molly Nichols ‘23 said about finding a homecoming date.

After weeks and weeks of awkward eye contact and flirting, it accumulates to that one big moment.

“Will you kick it with me at homecoming?” one might ask a soccer player.

“Since your done shooting 3’s, will you go to HOCO with me?”

Photos by Frances Sullivan

WHAT STARTED AS THE CHEMISTRY CLUB LAUNCHING PUMPKINS TURNED INTO ONE OF THE SPOOKIEST EVENTS ON FRIDAY OCT. 29.

THE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT WORKED TOGETHER TO CREATE SEVERAL STATIONS DEMONSTRATING MANY EXPERIMENTS. FROM BLOWING UP PUMPKINS TO MAKING FOAM COME OUT OF CARVED FACES, THE EVENT WAS LITERALLY A BLAST.

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OPINION

RJ MEDIA FOR STUDENTS BY STUDENTS

We encourage student voices submit your opinion piece or letter to the editor for our next issue at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com

by Parker Cillen ‘23

REGIS JESUIT’S INSUFFICIENT HEALTH MANDATE ENFORCEMENT “WEAR A MASK OVER YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH WHEN IN PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY INDOORS, EVEN IF YOU ARE VACCINATED”

The enforcement of the proper use of masks at Regis Jesuit is atrocious.

Through the semester, from the time that the Tri-County Health Department reinstated the mask mandate in all K-12 schools until now, Regis Jesuit has done a laughable job at making sure their students are wearing their masks properly. The Tri-County Health Department’s requirement explicitly states, “Wear a mask over your nose and mouth when in public, especially indoors, even if you are vaccinated.”

Over the nose. Every single class, passing period, or time spent inside the school, students must have their masks worn properly and over the nose.

I have seen several people wear their masks incorrectly, but the response and reaction from the teachers has been utterly horrendous. Personally, I haven’t seen any students receive any formal discipline for mask-wearing violations. Just a slap on the wrist. This is an incredible example of complacency and misuse of tolerance by Regis Jesuit faculty.

We should not be babying the students who refuse to listen to public safety; we should penalize them for breaking TriCounty Health Department rules. When a teacher tells a student to put their mask over their nose, students often will comply and then immediately pull it back down, because there is no punishment for doing so. The lack of punishment gives these students protection from

32 ELEVATE OP-EDS

discipline, and it makes the mandate that was meant to keep people safe meaningless.

Regis Jesuit should stop allowing students to abuse the school’s tolerance for misconduct. At the very least Regis Jesuit should treat the mask mandate violations with the same regard that they do with other clothing violations.

The punishment for clothing violations is very clear; first a demerit and later an escalation to further discipline. If the punishment for not wearing something completely unrelated to public health is this severe, then the punishment for not wearing a mask should be tenfold. Regis Jesuit must send a message to parents and students that they are at least taking the virus seriously.

Lack of consideration for mask mandates is the result of severe radicalization thanks in part to rightwing extremists, who deem the virus as nothing more than “a cold,” with the assistance of people like Tucker Carlson who spread misinformation to millions of people. It is Regis Jesuit’s duty to stand for the health and safety of their students and to not allow certain misinformed students to use masks incorrectly within their halls.

As followers of Christ, we are to be truth seekers and are called to listen to the facts. When a state licensed health department says to wear a mask in this way, it’s Regis Jesuit’s duty to enforce that.

YOU JUST SAY? WHAT DID CONFRONTING MICROAGGRESSIONS HEAD ON

by Kaeyla Stevens ‘23 and Lyric Swift ‘23

Microaggressions are insensitive comments or generalized rude behavior. They’re the kinds of remarks, questions, or actions that are painful because they have to do with a person’s membership in a group that’s discriminated against or subject to stereotypes. The thing with microaggressions is that they happen casually, frequently, and often without any harm intended, in everyday life. There are so many examples of microaggressions, it would take years to get through every possible scenario.

One day, during my freshman year, I was in class and one of my peers had gotten back from a trip overseas. She proceeded to put her arm next to mine on the desk.

She then said, “I’m almost as dark as you.” At that moment, I was shocked. I wasn’t sure how to feel.

I laughed it off and went about the rest of my day not thinking twice about it. When I got home, I was reflecting on my day, and realized that it made me extremely uncomfortable. I was upset about it. I didn’t confront my classmate. I decided to just leave it alone.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ENCOUNTER A MICROAGRESSION Microaggressions can have a heavy impact. That is a big reason to speak up if someone says something to you that makes you uncomfortable. If you don’t tell the person how you feel, their actions won’t change. If someone says something racist to you, don’t question yourself. Your feelings are valid. If it hurts you, it hurts you.

HOW TO CONFRONT A MICROAGGRESSION There are many ways you can go about confronting a person in a non-combative way. If speaking up isn’t something you want to do, that is okay. You can simply let it go. That is many people’s default reaction. You can also decide to respond immediately.

It can be extremely difficult to say something right at that moment because you are flustered by many different emotions.

It is important to be careful with your words and tone when confronting a person about their words and actions. If you come at them angrily, they are more than likely to become defensive and not want to hear you out.

We also have to remember that many people can’t and won’t understand that what they said was racist, homophobic, or sexist.

So don’t be surprised if you’re unable to help them see their mistakes or the impact that they had on you.

You can also respond later. If you want, you can talk with that person in a more private setting.

This option provides you with the opportunity to gather all your thoughts and feelings before talking to the person. You can explain why and what they said was wrong.

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DISCRIMINATION AND MICROAGGRESSIONS The main difference between microaggressions and overt discrimination is that people

who commit microaggressions might not even be aware of them. Microaggressions are typically smaller incidents that are done without bad intentions.

Discrimination is the complete opposite. These actions are done with bad intent. They tend to single out a specific type of person. Let’s look at some microaggressions that are common for the black community to experience.

A common microaggression that black men talk about is being followed around in stores. They are presumed to be shoplifting.

Another stereotype with black men is that they do not have father figures. People will make jokes such as “Did your dad go to get milk?” Implying that their dad left them and never came back.

Black women are constantly asked condescending questions.

Such as: “How long is your real hair?”, “Can I touch your hair? It’s just so different.” or “How do you get it like that?” When you ask people things like this don’t be surprised If they get defensive.

It’s simply nobody’s business but theirs. Black girls also often hear “You’re pretty for a black girl.” This isn’t a compliment. In fact, it is extremely insulting.

In the end, it’s important for all of us to be aware of our words and actions.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A MICROAGGRESSION

1STAY CALM

Don’t react in a hostile manner. Try to keep your emotions intact. Remember to breathe as some people may not even notice that what they said may have offended you.

2

DON’T QUESTION YOUR EMOTIONS

Remember, if someone says something that offends you, you have every right to be upset.

3

DON’T FEEL PRESSURED TO SAY SOMETHING AT THAT EXACT TIME OR PLACE

Confronting people can be difficult in any given situation. If you feel prepared or ready to talk to the person(s) in a private setting after the situation occurrs that is perfectly fine. For others, they may need to sit with their feelings for a while and figure out what to say. That is perfectly okay too.

Either way, maintain composure, try to be understanding of the person as they may be defensive or not understand that what they said was wrong.

4

IF IT HAS A BIG EFFECT ON YOU, TALK TO A TRUSTED FRIEND OR ADULT

This situation is difficult for a lot of people to deal with. These comments can have big life changing effects. One way to help with the damage is to talk to someone.

Talk to someone who may understand what you’re going through, for me that person is my mom or grandma. Find someone who can relate and help you through what may be a difficult time.

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COMMENTARY

RJ MEDIA FOR STUDENTS BY STUDENTS

We encourage student voices submit your opinion piece or letter to the editor for our next issue at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com

FALL FAVORITES POPULAR THE JUSTIFIED POPULARITY OF FALL

by Rachel Hilty ‘23

Fall is a time where things are changing; leaves start turning orange, the weather gets colder, school starts up again, and it becomes spooky season. Fall is a very popular season for Regis Jesuit students and is the favorite time of year for many.

Fall must be a popular time for athletes because the weather gets cooler, so they do not have to practice in the heat. The changing color of the leaves gives sports teams that practice outside a nice view.

Varsity cross country runner Lily Jasinowski ’23 said her favorite part of fall is “Leaves crunching when you run.”

Fall adds some entertainment and positive changes for the school athletes and many of them enjoy it very much.

Another popular aspect of fall is Halloween. This holiday provides them with a lot of fun activities to do.

People can go to a pumpkin patch to get pumpkins for carving, stay home and watch scary movies, and dress up in fun costumes to go to haunted houses with their friends. Haunted houses are an especially fun activity for Regis Jesuit students because the theatre club hosts one themselves.

Students can come with their friends after school to get seriously spooked in their very own Z theatre. The

haunted house goes on the week before Halloween and this year’s was quite a frightening event.

Another thing that Regis Jesuit students love about Halloween is the warm and comforting feeling it gives them. Isabella Spezia ‘23 said her favorite part of fall is Halloween “because it’s cozy.” Ellie Post ‘23 said she like Halloween because it is “crisp.” Halloween takes a lot of high schoolers back to their childhood and reminds them of the many warm fuzzy feelings they have for this holiday.

Another well-loved thing in the Regis Jesuit community is the flavors of fall. Around the school, you can hear students and even teachers

talk about their favorite fall foods.

Students come in with pumpkin spice lattes and maple donuts and the school even sells pumpkin bread and chai lattes in the cafeteria. Cianna Canning ’23 said she loves all the fall foods, but the pumpkin bread is especially her favorite. The exciting flavors of fall are part of what makes the season so special.

Crunchy leaves, Halloween, fall activities, and fun autumn flavors are all things Regis Jesuit students can look forward to as the weather gets cooler. Hopefully, the season of fall will make the transition into winter break and the end of the semester go by just a little bit better and faster.

by Bridget Fitzpatrick ‘23

THE NEWHOMECOMING TRADITION

REGIS’ FIRST POWDER PUFF GAME “EVEN THOUGH THE JUNIORS LOST, I WOULDN’T HAVE TRADED THIS EXPERIENCE FOR ANYTHING.”

34 ELEVATE STUDENT COMMENTARY

As the first six weeks of school pass, our schedules weren’t the only thing that changed. On September 22 we officially welcomed the autumn season.

What better way to celebrate than a classic football game? The junior and senior girls decided to do just that when Regis introduced a new homecoming tradition: powder puff football.

The juniors and seniors went headto-head during homecoming week this year, coached by football players in their own grade. Practices were held in the two weeks up to the game, where the players got to know how things worked, develop their skills, and come together

as a team. One of the best parts was that it was open to every junior and senior girl, even if you didn’t play a sport or had no experience with football. As one of the juniors that got to play, even with the practices I had no idea what I was doing. We were all nervous on game day, but the coaches were a huge help in telling us what to do, where to go, and putting us in positions that played to our strengths.

When the big day finally arrived, both teams were ready to go. The team cheers were hyping the girls up, and the look of determination was stricken across every player and coaches face.

The whistles blew and suddenly it began. The teams were neck and neck the whole time. One player would get close to the end zone, only to get her flag stolen by the defenders. Eventually the seniors scored, winning Regis Jesuit’s first powder puff game.

Even though the juniors lost, I wouldn’t have traded this experience for anything. It’s a perfect opportunity to learn more about the game, get to know your friends competitive sides, and be a part of something really fun. Overall, this is going to be a great new homecoming tradition that I can’t wait to see in the future. See you next year class of ‘24.

ELEVATE STAFF

STAFF EDITORIAL In a year full of stress and anxiety we feel lucky to produce this magazine. We are thankful for the community who has helped Regis not only to pull through but flourish during these challenging times. We are grateful for those who work to keep our school clean, those who aid us with technical difficulties, and those who teach us not only lessons within the classrooms but also those lessons we will take with us when we leave Regis Jesuit. At Regis Jesuit, we have a community fueled by compassion and open mindedness. Our community is filled with

several perspectives and is willing to share their stories with us and hear from others. We have so many voices to represent and stories to hear. We are thankful that we can do our part to share them with you. Thank you for your readership, continual dedication to making student voices heard, and allowing us to document what makes this community special. Thank you for doing your part to keeping us safe and to remain learning in person as a strong community.

CLUBS, CLUBS

by Caleb Woldemedhine ‘23

AND MORE CLUBS

OUR BENEFITS FROM CLUBS Within the past few weeks, I have heard nearly everybody say that they already want school to be over. It might be because Homecoming is over and there is not as much to look forward to.

Instead of looking forward to only breaks many people have decided to join more clubs to have a more interesting year.

A club called Diversity Action Group (DAG) is speaking primarily about current issues within our Regis Jesuit community, and they help plan Diversity Day. Diversity Day is a Regis Jesuit event where you hear about different stories and issues that have happened either in the school community or in the actual world. Guest speakers talk with students in sessions and tell their story.

If I were personally to rate DAG, I would give it five out of five stars due to the advocacy and issues spoken about within our school. I would recommend that all go.

Another Club that I looked into was RJ Media and Raider Sports Network. Who knew that what we watched every Friday on RJTV was written, filmed, and produced by a club right here at Regis Jesuit? The work that they put in is incredible, and there is always a new piece coming out about something that happened in the Regis Jesuit community being highlighted on RJTV. Those 5 to 10 minutes that we see every Friday can take

anywhere from 2 to 3 hours to produce, cut, and shape. This is all done by Regis Jesuit students who take time out of their busy days to bring you high quality and entertaining news. I would give RJTV another five out of five for incorporating students and accomplishing so much.

Yes, the year isn’t coming to an end, and school may just become more boring, but to make it more interesting, we should try to join more clubs as a community. DAG and RJ Media are just two out of many more at the school.

There’s also History Bowl, Robotics, Yearbook, and Athletic Training Club. As a Regis Jesuit community, we offer so many clubs that range from expanding perspectives about current issues to just playing some golf. They provide us great opportunities and a wonderful way to make new friends. They open us up to so many new and unique opportunities. So, for those of you interested in any clubs, you have a wide range to choose from. You will definitely find your place.

TO VIEW A LIST OF ALL CLIBS AND ACTIVITIES OFFERED AT REGIS JESUIT, VISIT THE “ACTIVITES” TILE ON THE MYRJ WEBSITE

WE ARE A GROUP OF DIVERSE STUDENTS AND ADULTS FROM MANY DIFFERENT CORNERS AND CULTURES OF OUR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY. We believe that life has ups and downs, that all of us will go through good times and tough times. Our mission is to ensure that during the rough times no one gets so overwhelmed or hopeless that they want to give up.

Our mission is to spread hope, help, and strength into every corner of our community. Our mission is to help students and staff turn their strengths and their supports that are all around. We are connectors to help and strength.

Our mission recognizes that our voice has great power and we use it to break the silence when someone is struggling, and to connect them to the help they need and deserve.

We spread hope by focusing on stories of strength, rather than on stories of trauma. We know our most powerful impact comes from our personal actions, conversations, and messages that use our music, our art, our writing, our activities, our social media, our culture, and our voice. This gives life to our efforts A basic rule of life seems to be when people get stuck in hard things, there is pressure on friends, families and bystanders to keep it quiet or try to handle it on their own. if you want to look for Sources of Strength type /sourcesofstrength (facebook) @sourceofstrength (instagram) @sourcesstrength (twitter) OR sourcesofstrength.org Don’t try to help all by yourself If you do not know what to do call National Life Line 1-800-273-TALK (8255) OR TEXT “HOME TO 741741

STUDENT COMMENTARY ELEVATE 35

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MAGAZINE

After missing the oppourtinuty their freshman year, the class of 2024 got their long awaited run-in. On September 24, 2021, the Rowdies led the sophmores as they stormed Lou Kellogg Stadium, keeping this Regis Jesuit tradition alive. Photo by Addi Samaras