The Lake - January 2016

the lake is the money

going where we think it is?

9300 W 104th Avenue | Westminster, CO | 80021 | USA | Planet Earth | Milky Way Volume 27 | Issue 3 January 2016

THE PEOPLE Editors-in-Chief | Nicole Heetland Olivia Koontz Team Editors | Esteban Arellano Hannah Jensen Emily Leo Christina Rudolph Patty Sokol

THE FORMALITIES Opinions or expressions made by students in this publication are not expressions of board policy. The district and its employees are immune from any civil action based on any expression made for or published by students. The Lake is an open forum for and by the students, faculty, and community of Standley Lake High School. The Lake is willing to accept and print any appropriate articles submitted by the students of SLHS and reserves the right to edit any of these articles. We will not print letters sent to us without a name and signature. Submit letters to standleylakenewspaper@gmail.com

2 January 2016 | Issue 3

Website Editors | Emily Leo Gordon Saur Staff Writers | Hannah Laughlin Meg Metzger-Seymour Ty Milliken Kayla Pray Gordon Saur Sophia Stimpfl Maxin Uhrich Cartoonist | Dechen Chhenmorito Adviser | Lynn Schwartz

SOCIAL @thelakenewsmag facebook.com/standleylakenewspaper @thelakenewsmag thelakenewsmag thelakenewsmag.com

ISSUE 3 | CONTENTS

9 10

14 20 28

24

3

Driver’s Education is an important investment – choose wisely!

Driver’s education is a big step in every teen’s (and parents!) life. We get your student off to a safe start, from permit to license. ALL instruction at 911 Driving School is EXCLUSIVELY by police officers.

The most important aspect of driver's education is SAFETY. The best safety device you can install in a car is a well-trained driver. Police officers are highly trained in every aspect of controlling a vehicle and can teach the latest in defensive driving techniques. This knowledge will be passed on to students to provide them with the skills necessary for safe driving on today's roads. 911 Driving School graduates have fewer warnings, tickets, accidents and suspensions. We also offer smaller class sizes for individualized attention and only 1-on-1 behind the wheel drives.

Complete package for your teen from permit to license: Colorado certified 30-hour classroom course & Written permit test 6 hours of behind the wheel training with instructor Driver’s license road test

9100 W. 100th Ave. B-4 Westminster, CO 80021

www.911drivingschool.com 303-425-0911

Classes available on weekends & school breaks!

WELL HI AGAIN. We hope your break was full of festive cheer and much-needed relaxation.

For this issue, we tackled a topic we were frankly nervous to find the results of: how education is funded and distributed in Colorado, and how the big bucks (or not-so-big bucks) trickle down to SLHS. We learned why we don’t have the money for a lot of new technology, but most of our feeder elementary schools have Smart Boards in almost every room. Now that we’re sharing our findings with you, we hope that you can become informed about a topic that affects all of us. Another thing that captured our attention was the disparity between different generations we walked out of the swamp and into a nursing home and an area elementary school. We talked to some awesome humans between the ages of 9 and 90 about the importance of respect, listening to each other, and what love means. All sorts of things we ought to care about, you know?

Right now, you’re holding the final copy of The Lake Issue 3.

But really, this magazine is about the 52nd draft. One of our stories fell through three times before our final idea worked out. Sometimes it’s just cool to think about the journey that this stack of 32 pages in your hands took to get there.

We’ve talked about how we will stop at nothing to find and tell the truth, as a news source. We will overturn every stone to find a new perspective, new fact, new story. But we don’t do it to just make a mess, or just for fun. We do it because it’s important. These stories are important.

xoxo, NICOLIVIA A.K.A. THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF OF THE LAKE P.S. WELCOME TO 2016. MAY IT BE A YEAR OF SIGNIFICANTLY LESS STRESS, LOTS OF SLEEP, FULFILLED RESOLUTIONS, AND GREAT PEOPLE.

5

THE RIGHT ANGLE

NEW GLASS CEILING

why aren't you a doctor?

According to Huffington Post, Asian-American students are at a significant disadvantage when it comes to applying to universities because they comprise a large percentage of the student body at many select schools.

smarty pants

100%

asian invasion g

o bo

n eili

c

A+ e= m

c²

m

ba

dishonor on you

o rk ?

The college application process has increased competitively over the past 20 years. High school students are trying their best to distinguish themselves from other applicants.

u

have the h

ew om

ASIAN STUDENTS FACE DISCRIMINATION WITH COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

do y o

you're chinese right?

There’s an expectation that Asian Americans will be the highest test scorers and at the top of their class; anything less can become an easy reason for a college’s rejection. And yet even when Asian American students meet this high threshold, they may be destined for the wait list or outright denial because they don’t stand out among the other high-achieving students in their cohort.

“Basically, according to [people], I have to be smart, get good grades, go to college, be a doctor/lawyer, and obey my parents’ every whim,” Derek Tran ‘16 said. “I get good grades, plan to go to college, let my parents control my life, et cetera. That’s about as stereotypical as I am. I don’t have a bad accent or only talk about Calculus all day.”

Asian-American students make up a disproportionate percentage of the student body at many select schools, compared to their share of the general population, resulting in what is referred to as “the bamboo ceiling” of racial quotas -Asian-American students with perfect standardized test scores and GPAs turned down by elite colleges who limit the number of Asians they will admit, effectively forcing them to face a higher bar for admissions than other racial groups, including whites.

“America is based on the principle of working hard to get what you want,” Tran said. “It’s the fabled American dream so why are we changing that? They should just open up more admissions

6 January 2016 | Issue 3

in general. Just don’t be a [jerk] and let people go to college to have a life that’s probably more productive than your close-minded one.”

“BASICALLY, ACCORDING TO [PEOPLE], I HAVE TO BE SMART, GET GOOD GRADES, GO TO COLLEGE, BE A DOCTOR/LAWYER AND OBEY MY PARENTS EVERY WIM.” -TRAN‘16

Brian Taylor is director of Ivy Coach, a Manhattan company that advises families on how to get their students into elite colleges. A number of his clients are Asian American, and Taylor is frank about his strategy for them.“While it is controversial, this is what we do,’’ Taylor said.

“We will make them appear less Asian when they apply.”

In addition, the National Association for College Admission Counseling reported that Asian students are convinced not to identify their race/ ethnicity box on applications to avoid potential

biases in admission to the nation’s top colleges. But this does not reduce fear among Asian applicants because the majority of Asian students’ last names gave away their Asian identity easily.

“I shouldn’t have to hide my true self in order to get something I worked my butt off,” Tran said. “Honestly, to those Asians, I say find a different school. Colleges like those need to pull that stick out of their butt and accept people because in the end, we are all just trying to get through life.” l | Patty Sokol

The Facts About

MEAT Cancer

.50 grams of meat a day can increase your chance of colon cancer by 18%

That includes...

- Pork (bacon, ham, etc.)

- Beef - Poultry (turkey, chicken) - All processed meat

Causing about

34,000 deaths a year

What Can I Do? - Eat

in Moderation

Eating smaller amounts of meat or cutting it out all together can decrease your chance of cancer.

This means smaller servings fewer days of the week.

- Cook at low Temeratures Cooking your meat at lower temperatures doesn’t allow the carcagens to develop as much as it would on high themperatures. Low heat methods of cooking include baking boiling, or making a pot roast.

| Ty Milliken | Gordy Saur

FRIDAY THE PARIS :( THIRTEENTH FRANCE FACES RECOVERY AFTER ACTS OF TERRORISM As another bomb goes off, more people fall to the ground. News stations report the increasing death count as people around the world stand in shock. The count stops at 130, but many more are injured and fighting for their lives.

“IT’S PRETTY OBVIOUS TO ME THAT WE ARE ALL DEPENDENT ON EACH OTHER.” -LAURENCE DARGER

On the evening of November 13, 2015, coffee shops, stadiums, and restaurants were attacked by members of the group ISIS. The attacks started at about 9:30 at night and continued into the early hours of the morning, causing French President Hollande to call a state of emergency.

French teacher Ms. Laurence Darger believes these attacks were more than just acts of terrorism. “Those attacks were not only retaliation for military moves in the Middle East,” Darger said. “But also a strike against freedom of expression, a certain lifestyle, a certain idea of freedom, and so it is a show of intolerance against a certain way of life we have in the west.”

The Bataclan, a concert hall in Paris, was one of the places that was attacked. 89 people were killed that night in the hall where the American band “Eagles of Death Metal” was playing their show.

The massacre was so significant, people all around the world couldn’t avoid it. “It’s pretty obvious to me that we are all dependant on each other,” Darger said. “We seed with the environments and anything that’s happening in the world is affecting us and all sorts of calls for action.”

All too familiar with acts of terrorism, the U.S empathizes with the French government.

Obama made a statement saying that the attacks were not only on Paris, but they were “an attack on all of humanity.”

Darger emphasizes the importance of security around the U.S. “I mean if we’re seeing more and more random attacks, and we’ve seen those in the US, we’re going to have to be careful about our surroundings and it’s very important,” Darger said.

The French government has since issued a step-by-step guide on how to react during a terrorist attack, and other countries have stepped up to help provide for Paris and the countries affected by the recent terrorist attacks. l | Hannah Jensen | Kayla Pray

7

THE RIGHT ANGLE

RESOLUTIONS YOU CAN

LIE

WITNESS NEWS

WE ASKED ANONYMOUS PEOPLE HOW THEY FELT ABOUT FALSE CURRENT EVENTS l

Did you hear that Kim Jong-Uun was voted sexiest man alive by China’s People Daily?

Nice! No honestly, that’s... I don’t know. A little weird isn’t it? I mean, he’s kinda fat. And that bald haircut… I don’t know about that. He looks like a panda.

I’d rather not answer this question. I like women.

Did you hear that Obama broke down and admitted that Bin Laden is still alive and out there?

Well that’s kinda scary isn’t it. I mean 9/11 is a pretty scary number, the only number I like is 7/11. They got burritos and tostadas.

Did you hear that Bill Nye died of ovarian cancer?

I don’t really care. I don’t know who that is. | Hannah Jensen | Patty Sokol | Maxin Uhrich

8 January 2016 | Issue 3

ACTUALLYDO Finish a project that you’ve always put off We all have that one project that’s sitting in the corner of our room (or maybe is our room) and always want to finish it, but never have the time or motivation to finish it. What better time to do that than the New Year?

Spend more time with family We all tend to resent spending time with our family, but make it a goal to actually spend more time with them. They’ll appreciate it, and so will you.

Do yoga Yoga is great for the soul and body. It builds strength and character and can even lift up your mood. Better yet, you can do it laying in your bed. | Hannah Laughlin | Kayla Pray

RESTAURANT

HOPPIN’

THE LAKE VISITS SOME CUTE PLACES CLOSE TO HOME l

Runway Grill - In order to get to this place, you need to take the roundabout to the lonely building. Then you take the elevator up to the second floor and you reach a small restaurant.

In the summer it’s warm and you can enjoy sitting on the patio.

In the winter, you can enjoy the nice atmosphere inside. The server welcomed us with a kind smile and we looked over the menu. The prices were a little much for the small portions but we ended up getting two large plates of fries. The fries were warm and homemade, making them even better than other places with over-salted fries.

Steamers - Located in Five Parks, Arvada, Steamers exuded a comfy, warm essence. Once we walked into the building, there was no doubt that the establishment had it’s own personality.

Initially thinking it was a coffee shop, we had no clue that it was more of a café. We were quickly seated after entering, and given a pretty broad menu. We ordered the Chai Tea Latte, Vanilla Chai, a croissant breakfast sandwich, a plain english muffin with complimentary blackberry jam, and the “Breakfast, your way-” a meal consisting of eggs, hashbrowns, toast, and a choice of meat. | Hannah Jensen | Kayla Pray | Patty Sokol

BUCKET LIST GOALS

Life is short, and there are plenty of things to do during the span of your life. Many people create lists of activities they want to do before they die. This is called a bucket list. Are you struggling to come up with ideas for your list? The Lake is here to help you out! l

-Traveling: Who doesn’t want to see exotic places and things?

Make a list of the seven wonders of the world. Not only do you get to see beautiful, ancient culture, but you get to travel all around the world as well.

-Personal Achievements: One of the hardest things to do is to be able to please yourself. Put down things on your list that will help make YOU happy. Whether it’s wanting to improve upon certain things or trying out new daring hairstyles, achieving something like that is worth putting on your bucket list.

-Taking Risks: Jumping out of planes and bungee jumping definitely take the cake when it comes to risk taking. However, what happened to the small risks? Start by asking out your crush or starting a new job; doing things you’ve never done before.

You don’t have to jump out of a plane to take a risk.

9

THE RIGHT ANGLE

Girls Basketball The girls team started off strong, winning their first game, making their record 1-0.

“I’m looking forward to playing with such a great group of people and the chemistry we have together is great,” Tara Atwood ‘17 said. “The team has great chemistry because we are friends on and off the court.”

HOCKEY Hockey won their first game, with a final score of 11-1 against Rampart. They are currently 1-0. The team this year is a young team, having only one senior from Standley Lake.

“I’m eager to see what high school hockey brings,” Braeden Overholt ‘19 said. “I see us doing fairly well this season.”

GIRLS SWIM 10 January 2016 | Issue 3

The swim team lost their first meet against Arvada West and as a team is standing at 0-1. Alison Parker ‘16 swam a 2:40 in the 200 individual medley and a 1:16 in the 100 meter. “My personal goals for the season are to qualify for state,” Parker ‘16 said. “My teammates have been pushing me the most to qualify for state.”

WRESTLING The wrestling team won their first meet and is at 1-0 for the season.

The team suffered from a couple injuries last season and is putting an effort to minimize them this season. “I’m really looking forward to wrestle this season, I had a shoulder injury last season and I have a good chance at qualifying for state,” Manuel LaCrue ‘16 said.

Pushing for Perfection GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS CHASE AFTER GOLDEN SEASON A sports column:

BY MAXIN UHRICH The Golden State Warriors are the first team in NBA history to begin the regular season perfect with a record of 22-0. This may never happen again. A team that begins their season this flawless is a rare sighting.

One of the few components the Warriors are overlooked by is their ball movement. The Warriors are averaging 29.4 assists per game in comparison the the ‘95-’96 Chicago Bulls who had averaged 24 and own the title for the best record in NBA history.

The Warriors will have a chance to overcome the NBA record of 72 wins this season but they also could achieve a perfect season record of 82-0.

They are favored to win in every single game this season excluding the game when they take on the Spurs in San Antonio.

BOYS BASKETBALL The basketball team started off victorious in their debut against Ft. Morgan but then fell short to Brighton the game after. The Gators are at 1-1 for the season. Garrett Martin ‘18 is leading the team in points averaging 15.5 points a game. “We have a really good group of guys this year, so we can definitely do well,” Jaylen Morgan ‘16 said. “The team is working hard to increase their skills and knowledge of the game. We aren’t content with just being the same. We want to win and we can see that drive in everyone.”

Superstar Steph Curry is shooting 53% and the team as a whole are scoring an average of 115.3 points a game. When the Warriors battled back from being down 23 points at the half to the Los Angeles Clippers, is when I knew the Warriors are going to achieve the best regular season record ever in the NBA. Down the line, the Warriors are most likely going to lose, the probability of them going perfect is very low but they have a high probability of dethroning Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and the entire ‘95-’96 Chicago Bulls for the title of the best regular season record But, for a team to be compared to the ‘95-’96 Bulls, the team has to be spectacular, and the Warriors are unbelievable. The team plays as a team as opposed for playing for themselves.

As a way to compare, imagine if Denver East, considered the best High School basketball team in Colorado, went undefeated. They are already 2-1 dropping the first game on the season. The Gators, sadly not considered the best High School team in state, is 1-1. It is that difficult to be as impeccable as Golden State.

The Warriors are arguably one of the greatest basketball teams to ever step on a NBA court.

Again, they’re 22-0. A team will never start out that great ever again.

This team is something special. If you call yourself a basketball fan or even a fan of sports at all, it a must that you watch this team perform.

We may never see an organized team like this in our lifetime.

11

Life hacks:

(N). ANY PROCEDURES OR ACTIONS THAT SOLVE A PROBLEM, SIMPLIFY A TASK, REDUCE FRUSTRATION, ETC. IN ONE’S EVERYDAY LIFE

| Ty Milliken | Kayla Pray | Patty Sokol

Mo' Money

Mo' Problems

Limit yourself to a certain amount of money every month, and give yourself a reasonable amount to spend on things such as gas, food, and a little bit for yourself.

Think to yourself:

“Do I really need to buy this?

Is it essential to my living and breathing?”

If you have a bank account, see if your app store has an app for it. This way you can track how much money you have in your account at all times.

Take the majority of the money that you get for birthdays, Christmas, or paychecks and put it in your savings. It adds up in the long run!

CAR Survival KIT: Here’s what your car should hold in case of an emergency: 1. Spark Plugs 2. Spare tire/cross lug nut wrench 3. Multitool 4. First Aid Kit 5. Flashlight 6. Duct tape, you always need duct tape 7. Blanket 8. Shovel 9. Food and H2O These basic supplies will help you survive for a couple of hours, heck, maybe even a couple of days, until you’re rescuers arrive… or until you reach your mom.

12 January 2016| Issue 3

Maybe your friend’s battery is dead. Maybe you have a flat tire. Maybe you’re stranded in the mountains.

Who knows what can happen?

Put down

Defend

THE

YOURSELF:

Ramen:

What is Ramen made of? Exactly. Stop putting processed foods into your body.

Kraft Mac and Cheese may be good, but it’s not that good—I mean, it’s powdered cheese. Chicken salad is an easy recipe that can be made with a few simple, real ingredients: (serves 4) 3 cups chopped chicken breast (boneless, skinless) 3 stalks celery chopped 1 cup mayonnaise ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper ¼ cup red onion

We were never really taught how to protect ourselves in a situation, if need be.

Gio Tin ‘17, a 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo, shares simple self defense moves to help give you some peace of mind.

*You can also add red seedless grapes, pecans, apples, cranberries, or sunflower seeds for some flavor

If someone were to assault you:

1.

2.

3.

Open both your palms with your fingers outstretched and together, like a knife Bring both hands high in the air in front of you Swing your hands down hard, connecting the side of your hands with the attacker’s elbow joints, causing him to let go

Charged UP It’s only half-way through the day and your phone is at 25%., Don’t let a dead battery ruin the day. here’s some ways to save your phone battery.

1 - Turn your screen brightness all the way down, or even better, turn on auto brightness.

2 - Shorten your screen timeout to a couple of seconds.

3 - Close unnecessary apps.

4 - Turn off or disable your GPS/Location 5 - Use airplane mode. When you don’t have a signal your data/wifi keeps searching for a signal or a connection, draining your battery.

6 - Keep your phone cool.

7 - Charge your phone fully. Don’t charge your phone to 90%, keep it going until it’s at 100%.

13

$ WHERE DOES

the dough GO?

14 January 2016 | Issue 3

Colorado ranks in the

Top 10 on lists for everything from the highest standard of living to the healthiest state.

However,

there is one list that puts Colorado at

NUMBER 43, ,

FAR below the national average:

state Spending per pupil for K-12 education.

15

To evaluate why Amendment 23 has accomplished very little in its 15 year existence, it’s important to first understand where funding comes from. “There are two big sources of funding for schools,” Stiffler said. “We all pay income tax and state sales tax and that all goes into the General Fund. And then there’s the local share which is all property taxes.”

06 $9

,27 8 $1

,20 6

Unfortunately, one of the biggest areas to take cuts was K-12 education. Reducing the amount of money the state gives to schools may seem like a simple concept, but in reality it’s extremely complicated. Amendment 23 requires the state government to increase funding for education, so how are they able to make cuts? It’s called the negative factor.

“The budget balances out for districts that have more poor students or more special education students or schools that are in the middle of nowhere and have to spend a lot more for transportation.” Stiffler said. “So this formula distributes money differently to schools to balance out their differences. These are called factors.”

These factors are essentially what distinguishes one district from another, but in 2009 legislators introduced a new, different kind of factor.

“Think of the negative factor as a negative pool of money,” Stiffler said. “If I give you negative money, essentially I’m taking money away from how many state dollars are going to your school.”

The negative factor allows the budget to technically comply with Amendment 23, but in reality, Colorado students are still being funded $1,000 less per pupil than the national average.

TABOR, Amendment 23, and the negative factor are all complex topics, but they have immense implications on the daily operations of

$423

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7 ,84

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WHAT SHOULD BE BEING GIVEN

falls,” Stiffler said. “ In 2009 and 2010, the state budget fell by 13%. And unlike the federal government which can’t borrow money, state budgets can’t borrow money. So they had to make cuts.”

7 9 ,07 00 $7 13 -2 ,8 $6 010 08 8 -2 20 ,46 $6 09 011 20 -2 ,474 10 12 $6 20 20 1 ,65 11 013 $6 20 -2 1 12 ,02 014 20 7 $ -2 13 4 015 20 ,29 -2 $7 14 016 20 -2 15 20

+

“People lose their jobs so they don’t have income tax and they’re not buying stuff so they’re not paying sales tax either. So the money available for the state budget

,05

AVERAGE FUNDING PER PUPIL IN COLORADO

Usually, these two sources are able to adequately fund state expenditures like roads, health care, and education.

However, in rare times of economic recession, the government is no longer able to fulfill all of its duties. One of these rare times was the recession of 2008.

9

"The only way to change it is for the state to really take a grasp of the funding that goes to education" -Mr. Jeff Pierson

$1,0$1,00 00 0

In the 1980s Colorado spent significantly more than the national average to fund schools. By 2000, eight years after the passage of TABOR, Colorado was paying $927 less per student than the national average. This means that more responsibility is placed on parents to cover the cost of education and less money is available to update technology and other teach-

In an attempt to stop falling behind other states, legislators passed another pivotal modification to the state constitution, Amendment 23. Essentially, Amendment 23 forced the government to increase education funding based on inflation.

For a brief period of time, Amendment 23 improved budgetary conditions in Colorado. “It helped at least stop the bleeding,” Stiffler said.

“We weren’t losing ground to the national average.”

$1

So what’s causing the major funding shortage in Colorado? There are a number of possibilities, but many experts credit the passage of a critical Article in the Colorado State Constitution, TABOR. Passed in 1992, TABOR, an acronym for The Taxpayer Bill of Rights, ensures that legislators cannot raise taxes without voter approval.

This might seem like a logical protection, but TABOR came with some serious consequences. “No one ever votes to raise their own taxes,” Chris Stiffler, an economist at the Colorado Fiscal Institute, said. “And in the past, we’ve had legislators lower taxes but then they won’t go back up because there has to be voter approval to raise them. That lowers the amount of money the entire state budget has.”

ing materials.

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U

nbeknownst to most students, Colorado is spending less on its citizens’ education than most states in the US. This affects the amount each student pays for school fees, opportunities available in high school, and most importantly, quality of education.

WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING GIVEN

16 January 2016 | Issue 3

SOURCE: GREAT EDUCATION COLORADO

AMOUNT EACH STATE SPENT PER PUPIL IN 2013

LESS THAN $8000

$12,000 TO $13,999

$8000 TO $9999

$14,000 TO $15,999

$10,000 TO $11,999

$16,000 OR MORE SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

$?

17

IN JEFFCO, MONEY IS DISTRIBUTED DIFFERENTLY BETWEEN HIGH SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND CHARTER SCHOOLS BASED ON EACH LEVEL’S ENROLLMENT. HERE’S THE BREAKDOWN.

ENROLLMENT

BUDGET

38,773

$205,223,869

23,828 11,183

$125,864,391

7,656

$61,415,491

$69,160,242

high schools

elementary schools

middle schools

charter schools SOURCE: 2015-2016 JEFFCO ADOPTED BUDGET

both Standley Lake and the rest of Jefferson County.

As one of Colorado’s largest school districts, the state’s budget has a large influence on spending within Jeffco. Kathleen Askelson, the Chief Financial Officer of Jefferson County Public Schools, is well aware of the obstacles inadequate funding presents. “We discuss in the budget book that we have a negative factor that the state has implemented to balance their budget,” Askelson said. “So we are missing funding by about 79 million dollars. I would love that additional funding. There would be a lot more that we could do if the state could meet their commitment to K-12 education.”

Colorado’s funding decisions even permeate into each student’s responsibility to ensure the quality of their own education.

Students at Standley Lake have to pay fees for anything not explicitly required for school. What many students may not know is that this isn’t the norm in most schools. “It’s weird coming from somewhere like Pennsylvania where I grew up where things are paid for,” Stiffler said. “You don’t have to pay fees to go to school. You don’t have to pay for AP classes or jerseys.”

Based purely on the statistics, Colorado is significantly behind the rest of nation when it comes to funding education. After accepting the existence of this problem, the question becomes: how do we fix it?

18 January 2016 | Issue 3

“The only way to change it is for the state to really take a grasp of the funding that goes to education,” Principal Mr. Jeff Pierson said.

“Until the state government takes a look at the funding that we’re not getting and looks at acts like TABOR and some other pieces, we’re never going to have a chance at a lot of that money that we deserve and need in our schools.”

To Stiffler, the biggest step to fixing the problem is even clearer, but also more controversial. “The biggest keystone to making any progress on funding for schools is to amend TABOR,” Stiffler said.

Changing the budgetary structure of one of the state of Colorado’s biggest expenditures will be no easy feat, but pressure is growing to ensure improvements are made. The reasons behind how education is funded may be complicated, but the basis of the issue is simple: a student at Standley Lake, or any other school in Colorado, is likely to receive $1,000 less from kindergarten to 12th grade than the national average.

Students may not know the full extent of problems in Colorado’s education system, but the issue impacts them at school every day.

And the consequences are crucial.

When the time comes for paying school fees at the beginning of each new school year, it’s always a surprise to see how quickly a bank account can be emptied by writing just one check.

The price for enrollment varies from year to year. “Freshman are pretty inexpensive and seniors are more expensive,” financial secretary Ms. Machee Whitesides said. “It’s the supplies that are necessary in the classes that they’re taking that makes some students fees more expensive than others.”

Seniors are generally more expensive because they have more freedom in the classes they can take, whereas freshman have a much smaller window to the classes and electives that they are able to take.

Since seniors have a variety of core classes and electives, they have to pay more money for their supplies depending on the classes they choose to take.

If a student is in the IB program, their fees are usually even more expensive, even though the classes they’re able to take is limited due to their rigorous curriculum.

“The IB exams alone were $465. Including enrollment, books, and the IB exams, school this year probably cost me close to $900,” Kendall Kinnard ‘17 said.

It’s not just the IB students who spends a lot of money on IB. “[Standley Lake] budgets anywhere from 30 to 50 thousand dollars a year just for the IB budget itself, which is a big chunk of our instructional money,” principal Mr. Jeff Pierson said.

This is quite the sum of money, but even with the thousands the school puts aside for IB, students still pay a considerable amount each year, and it doesn’t end with IB. Even for students who aren’t in IB, spending hundreds of dollars just to enroll for school or take a test can seem impossible.

To help those who are not able to pay their fees upfront, the Free and Reduced Program covers or reduces certain fees. Students who are in the Free and Reduced Program don’t have to pay as much for enrollment and fees as the students who are not in the program. Based on the number of students who meet the qualifications to have free or reduced cost, the district gives Standley Lake a certain amount of money to apply to those students’ needs.

“We receive money from the government for them, so they can still take the same classes that other students take,” Whitesides said.

This system, called school-based budgeting, is the same method used to determine the amount of money the rest of Standley Lake receives from the district each year.

Unfortunately, Standley Lake doesn’t have a big enough budget to get new technology such as smart boards in every classroom, like they have in some nearby elementary schools and middle schools.

"We're really operating a small city. It's a huge budget and there are a lot of pieces to it, but really it's just like manag-ing a small city."

-Mr. Jeff Pierson

“In the last week of September we do a full count of our students and how many classes students are taking,” Pierson said. “We send that number off to the district and the district audits it and sends it back to us and they tell us ‘You’ll be funded for this many students’ and we get a certain amount of money.”

“I wish we had newer technology like that in our school,” Kinnard ‘17 said. “If we are expected to function in society we need to have the correct technological tools.”

One technological advance that was brought to Standley Lake this year was the Raptor system.

While the Raptor system has brought benefits like decreasing tardies and improving the security and surveillance of our school, it also took money out of our budget.

“I think it’s a bit over the top just to correct bad behavior,” Kinnard ‘17 said. “The kids who were late before are still late now, and the kids who weren’t late before it does not affect. We have more important issues we could spend money on to improve our school.”

Students don’t always agree with the way administration divides the money, but it’s never an easy decision.

“We’re really operating a small city,” Pierson said. “It’s a huge budget and there are a lot of pieces to it, but really it’s just like managing a small city.”

The small city called Standley Lake needs to be able to function with the amount of money that it receives, and it’s important that everyone understands where its money actually comes from and where it goes.

Ultimately, education funding in Colorado is far behind most of the nation. This diminutive funding works its way down the system to Standley Lake, and schools and students alike are being heavily impacted because of it.

Information from: Colorado Fiscal Institute l | Nicole Heetland | Hannah Laughlin | Meg Metzger-Seymour | Kayla Pray | Christina Rudolph | Sophia Stimpfl

19

the

Best things since

sliced bread 2015 was an exciting year for books, movies, music, and technology. Here are the favorite things that we tried this year, for you to enjoy too. But don’t worry: just because it’s now 2016 doesn’t mean you still can’t jam to Bieber.

music Rodeo by travi$ scott Rodeo is eccentric, unpredictable, and absolutely consuming. That’s the first thing that you need to know about up-and-coming rapper Travi$ Scott’s sophomore album. Its wild and maximal sound rivals Kanye West, yet at the same time, Rodeo is nothing at all like anything Yeezus has ever made.

Travi$ Scott has made his own style by not having one: one minute he is Yeezus himself and the next he is Kid Cudi.

1

“Travis Scott’s new album, Rodeo, encompasses a lot of genres,” Cassie Gardner ‘16 said.

To see what he is all about, check out his songs “Apple Pie” or “Impossible”. His versatility is even seen in the wide array of artists on the album: Kanye West, The Weeknd, Future, 2 Chainz, and many more make an appearance.

In other words, listen to Rodeo if you want to be entirely reintroduced to the rap game.

25 by adele All of this hubbub about Adele is very, very well-deserved. She greets us with the hauntingly real first line: “Hello, it’s me” (a phrase that has already gained so much popularity and one that tell us that we are in for a treat).

But the hearty and wildly popular “Hello” is like a delicious appetizer that at once fills our appetite and leaves us desperate for more.

Luckily, there are 11 more songs.

Adele is not afraid to upset a few with her heart-wrenching “When We Were Young” and “All I Ask”.

But don’t think “25” is just a tissue-consuming opera: songs like “I Miss You”, “Water Under the Bridge”, and “River Lea” pack a huge punch and a break from all the sadness. Adele’s 25 is the most authentic music of the year.

2

| Esteban Arellano

purpose by justin bieber Justin Bieber released an album this year, receiving positive reviews because it is an improvement from Bieber’s past couple of years.

3

“My favorite album this year was Purpose because it’s a good comeback from his very rude and selfish phase,” Maylynn Marlow ‘17 said. If you want to get your groove on, Purpose is an excellent album to listen to. Bieber’s album consists of a mix of R&B, EDM, and pop. One of the best songs on his new album is, “What Do You Mean?” which entails a mix of all the genres. The album also includes multiple piano ballads in which Bieber reflects upon his personal missteps. In an effort to show he’s a better person, Bieber says, “I try my best not to let this happen again.” Bieber’s outros coupled with the R&B in Purpose is what makes it a great album and one of the best in 2015. | Maxin Uhrich

| Esteban Arellano

20

30

50

% of SLHS students chose Rodeo as the best album of 2015

% of SLHS students chose 25 as the best album of 2015

% of SLHS students chose purpose as the best album of 2015

20 January 2016 | Issue 3

3

1

2

5

apple watch—from $350 samsung gear s2 from $299 fitbit surge—from $250

4

technology 4

wearables

2015 has seen a massive amount of new technology available to the consumer, the most popular being wearable technology. This new wave of tech, with products like Samsung Gear, the Apple Watch, and the Fitbit Surge, works as a connection to your phone, supposedly helping with productivity and fitness.

5

phones

By now, you’re probably tired of hearing about Apple technology, but the truth is, they have a lot to offer with capabilities to connect devices, and they also have the largest available library for apps, games, and music. And, at the center of Apple’s growing universe is the new iPhone 6s. Capable of 4K video, with the best camera available for a phone, the 6s takes the prize for best phone of 2015.

hoverboards Forgetting the little Segway things that people on YouTube ride, several versions of the hoverboard have appeared for the first time since 1985. Using magnets, Lexus has made a real hoverboard, capable of going over water by means of a track laid into concrete, like a magnetic train. Although it is not available to consumers, the Lexus invention is the closest thing we’ve seen to Marty McFly’s board. Currently, though, the only “hoverboard” you can buy is the Onewheel which works like a skateboard with one wheel in the middle, allowing you to move back and forth like a hoverboard. | Gordon Saur

21

what’s going to be the next best thing? album

Psssssst If you are a quirkier, more curious listener, check out Return to the Moon by EL VY, a new side project of The National’s Matt Berninger. This album ties Berninger’s deep baritone voice with unusual sounds that come together to make for an interesting listen and a sure favorite.

this is acting by sia expected: jan 29, 2016 Sia has already blown us away with “Chandelier”, “Wild Ones”, and “Elastic Heart”.

Based on the exhilarating single “Alive”, this is going to be a crazy album. technology

google cardboard If you have seen people walking around with a cardboard box strapped to their heads, don’t worry, you will be soon.

This cheap invention by Google is a stunning first leap into Virtual Reality, where you can immerse yourself in scenes around the world. movie

books all the light we cannot see by anthony doerr

finding dory expected: jun. 17, 2016 “Finding Nemo” is a staple for most kids. The sequel, which focuses on the eccentric Dory (voiced by the hilarious Ellen Degeneres), is bound to be just as great. | Esteban Arellano

22 January 2016 | Issue 3

The book All The Light We Cannot see is the best book of 2015. Winning the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and becoming a bestseller, this fantastic work of of literature has a lot to offer.

The book tells the story of two children living in two different countries during World War II and how their paths cross. The first we meet is Marie-Laure, a girl living in Paris who has gone blind and is forced to memorize the streets of her city, Nazi occupied Paris, and then, the orphan boy Werner, who eventually crosses paths with Marie-Laure in the famous French city of Saint-Malo. With ties to history throughout its pages, All the Light We Cannot See gives the reader a connection to the characters. But it is not the tremendous characters, the familiar setting, or the fresh take on history that gives this book the crown for best of 2015. Author Anthony Doerr’s telling of the story, with his vibrant details and ability to keep us turning the pages, makes us feel like he experienced the book first hand. Doerr is truly a masterful storyteller, making All the Light We Cannot See a book to be saved in history. | Gordon Saur

“I like Pitch Perfect 2 because the movie was really funny and I also liked the music in it.”

“I really liked the movie Selma because it shined the light on the civil rights movement.”

- kale kizer ‘17

movies

“It was really funny and I recommend not watching it with your parents.”

- abby granier ‘17

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- Elliot McNeave ‘18

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"I really enjoyed Straight Outta Compton. I liked the storyline and I’m a fan of hip hop.”

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“I liked Jurassic World because I thought the dinosaurs were cool and I enjoyed the development of the story line and the transitions between scenes.”

- eli uhrich ‘19

“[‘Inside Out’] is really an original movie, you don’t see other movies like it.”

- brooke olds ‘17

23

BREAKING THE

Generation Expectation OLDER AND YOUNGER AGE GROUPS DISMANTLE LINGERING STEREOTYPES Young folks are awkward, rude, edgy, ignorant, and rebellious.

a great big difference [and] I could’ve had fun with it.”

Old folks are boring, grouchy, stubborn, and sleepy.

She recognizes that other elderly people may not be as quick to accept younger people and the things they do, but that it may be beneficial to help them grasp the concepts.

That’s the way it’s been and that’s the way it is.

As a new generation comes along, there are always expectations and pressures that develop.

While it is hard for older groups to accept societal shifts that come with new generations, it can also be difficult for younger people to maintain the standard of life that the generations before them followed. It is therefore more difficult for them to build a reputation that lives up to that of the people that came before them.

Evan Luebbert ’17 suggested that stereotypes are inaccurate representations. “I feel that that is not an accurate generalization of me or others, and it’s kind of unfair, without getting to know [us] first,” Luebbert said.

Deloris Haddock, a resident at Clear Creek Care Center in Westminster, is open to trends that spawn from younger generations, combatting the usual stubbornness that is generally assigned to people of her age. “Sure, I’d love to wear a pair of torn jeans,” Haddock said. “It’s

24 January 2016 | Issue 3

titude towards all teenagers, and if they did get to know [us] better, they might have a different opinion.”

But Luebbert also noted that “They’ve been here longer and they have a lot of wisdom that we don’t have. We should definitely respect that.”

“I think if they could understand [the trends], they’d embrace [them]. I really do,” Haddock said. “[The misunderstanding] is not meant in a cruel way. We just need it explained. I think that’s all it takes.”

Though her interactions with unfamiliar people have grown more sparing through the years, Haddock is involved with the young people in her life, and she realizes that they aren’t to be pegged as uncouth and rude.

Both Luebbert and Corrina Teague ’16 recognize that the misunderstanding may not just be a problem with the elderly, but that young adults are equally responsible for creating stereotypes for older generations.

“I have three sons. They taught their children to respect their elders, because you don’t know how long [they’re] going to be here,” Haddock said. “I know what my children do, and it gives me great pride.”

“I think that [they] have been through a lot, so they know a lot more than we do,” Teague said. “When they call us those things, I think it’s just because they had it a lot tougher than we did and they know what it’s like to get through life.”

William Osborn, another resident at Clear Creek admits that, as an adolescent, he didn’t always see adults in the best light. “It was hard to be respectful of adults, particularly those who I worked for. It became a habit with me to defer to the older generation,” Osborn said. “I had to learn how to deal with them, and let them deal with me.”

“I think it’s kind of a stereotype to say that all older people have a certain image of young people as ‘rascals’, because I think lots of old people think teenagers are good people,” Luebbert said.

“That is unfair that some of them have that at-

But as it often happens with age, Osborn grew to understand adults. “I think that I deferred to them at first because of their age and their

yass slay

What are those?!

Those dang kids!

Get off my lawn

25

GEN X VS. MILLENNIALS GEN X

MILLENNIALS

HOW MANY46,000,000 People

HOW MANY78,000,000 People

AGE-

AGE-

30-43

15-27

FAMOUS PEOPLE-

FAMOUS PEOPLE-

Barack Obama

Ashton Kutcher

INFLUENCES-

INFLUENCES-

-Water Gate -End of Cold War -September 11 -Televsion

-Digital media -School shootings -Terrorist attacks

NICKNAMES-

NICKNAMES-

-Gen X -Post Boomers -The Doers -13th Generation

-Gen Y -Generation Next -Echo Boomers

experience. I did try to learn from them as I went along,” Osborn said.

Although many have formed the beliefs that younger generations are growing up in a time where manners are not as heavily emphasized, there are still children who learn the importance of respecting elders and adults holding positions of authority.

"I think it's kind of a stereotype to say that all older people have a certain image of young people as 'rascals', because I think lots of old people think teenagers are good people," -Evan Luebbert'17

A fourth grader at Witt Elementary, Braeden, shared that he makes sure to let people know when he’s listening.

“I respect adults by paying attention [and] by sitting or standing correctly with body language,” Braeden said. “I try by being nice and pay attention to them.”

VALUES-

-Work-life balance -Education -Independence

-Teamwork -Social change -Diversity -Positive reinforcement

26 January 2016 | Issue 3

In spite of the stigmas, each generation seems to develop their own rules, setting the standards of what is and isn’t okay.

“I think part of the reason why we’re misunderstood is because we don’t really communicate much with the older generations, and so it would be better for the younger generation to evolve themselves more,” Luebbert said.

Prices through the ages 40’s

VALUES-

Many kids out there insist upon treating the adults in their lives with the utmost respect, yet as each generation develops, conflicts brew—whether it be between children and parents or adolescents and adults in general.

Maybe it’s just a matter of growth, in which each generation goes through a rough patch and learns to understand older generations.

50’s

60’s

s t u n o D n e z o D e On r a C $0.15 e g a r e v An A $850

$0.23

It may be a matter of compromising, to allow the elderly to ease into the new and—to them— foreign things that young people sometimes pursue.

“Maybe we can learn from just correcting ourselves when we are around the elderly,” Teague said. “[And] maybe that’s how we should have been acting all along.”

ever-drifting world that they have grown up in.

said.

Many of the older generations watching young people develop are fearful for their futures.

Haddock is one of the many who are concerned for the adolescents in their lives.

Like Haddock, math teacher Ms. Sheila Humphreys is also concerned for youths, but from a different perspective. “I fear that we have too many lazy people. And I think it’s going to hurt them, because it can turn into a lifestyle,” Humphreys said.

“My grandchildren and my great grandchildren

Though they are often coined as being apathetic and unaware, there are many young people who are also worried about the years ahead. Teague ’16 expressed her unease with the future.

There’s no denying that the times have changed. Society has become more accepting of how youth culture has evolved— from the music that’s listened to, to the words that come out of people’s mouths.

There has also been a shift in how people interact, especially in how individuals seek love interests.

“I fear that our generation and future generations won’t know how to just enjoy life,” she said. “I think that electronics will be a very guiding force for our generation and generations to come—which can be beneficial but also unhelpful in some aspects.”

When asked how he dealt with love in his youth, Osborn emphasized, “Very, very carefully.” He also added that the standards were a little bit different. “The guys I knew took care of planning and paying for a date, unlike today, where it’s a little different.”

In spite of what is unknown about the future, there is also importance in optimism.

Math teacher Mr. Fred Renken embodied the idea that people deal with what goes on accordingly, in hopes of accomplishing the best possible outcome.

In regards to going on dates with her husband prior to their marriage, Haddock described a similar series of events. “It was initiated by him,” she said. “First he took me out to dinner, then we went to the show, and back then it was drive-ins. We enjoyed the drive-ins. Then we’d go over to a friend’s and play cards.”

For present day youths, there aren’t many concrete standards. It has become acceptable and normal for both men and women to initiate romantic interactions. But the curiosities and anxieties of attraction still stand.

Another student at Witt Elementary, kindergartener, Emily, recalled how she feels when she has interests in a boy. “I get nervous sometimes and I kind of say in my brain, ‘Does he love me?’”

It is fair to say that the rift lies not within how children act and acted in the past, but with the

80’s 70’s $4,600,000 Com put er

“I think the generation right now has just about as much promise as any generation,” he said. “[But] we live in a world with so much violence and [this] generation is stuck in the middle of it. Maybe [they] can figure it all out.”

are coming into a world that is falling apart,” she said. “I’m not saying falling apart like we’re all going to go off the ends of the earth, [but rather] with the wars that are going on. It’s stupid, people fighting over stupid things—and they’re killing off their generation.”

She stated that the level of violence in the world has progressed to extremes. “I mean, we would pull hair, we would knock each other down, but nowadays, someone’ll shoot you,” Haddock

90’s $7,000

00’s

The break between generations may never shrink, but it is just as crucial to trust what older people have experienced and taken away from their lives as it is to consider the new and innovative things that young people have to offer to this world.

In the end, the priority must lay within finding a way to share this earth and adapt to the ways that everyone else views it, without destroying the beautiful things that come about with each new wave of people. l | Emily Leo | Ty Milliken | Gordon Saur

10’s

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27

OPINIONS

dreaming

WHEN DID WE STOP

A COLLECTION OF MINI-EDITORIALS

loving the snow Honestly, when did we lose that sheer joy the snow brought us as kids?

This white fluffy matter somehow brought out something special in us, or at least it used to. I loved the fast moments, sledding or skiing down the slick white surface. I loved the slow moments, when it was so deep you could trust fall back into it and just land in a few feet of powder. I loved the still moments, when it was snowing lightly and I could watch a little snowflake on my coat sleeve slowly melt before my eyes. Before there were any responsibilities, like shoveling, or white-knuckle driving in it, we simply enjoyed it. Sure, it smothers your car in a thick layer of concrete-like ice that makes you late to school. And yeah, it grows into mountains of greyish-brown that tower over the grocery store parking lot, far into April. But snow also gives us white Christmases and snowmen and moisture for flowers come springtime. Not to mention it cancels school every now and then. So thaw out your frozen heart, and give snow a little love. | Olivia Koontz

28 January 2016 | Issue 3

? reading

thinking We seem to see the world only in black and white.

We’ve become controlled by ideology, never letting something simply exist.

There’s no middle ground.

Compromise is a sign of weakness. Our beliefs are all that matter. But the real essence of life, the heart of it, is in the grays—not the black and white. So pause.

Take a look around and don’t try to force your set of guidelines onto everything you lay your eyes on. There’s both good and bad to every aspect of life, and you only really notice both if you take a step back. Challenge your opinions and get informed instead of taking a political or ideological stance. Not everything needs to be fought in a debate. Sometimes the really important things in life just need to be understood.

When we get entrenched in our own ideas, we become imprisoned, and our world gets smaller. Instead, allow yourself to ask questions and get uncomfortable with what you accept as right or wrong.

Just take a deep breath and think. | Gordon Saur

It’s hard to find someone these days that actually enjoys reading. Personally, it’s very hard for me to pick up a book and sit down to read it.

Between school and other activities, it’s almost impossible to find time to even enjoy the book. I know most people are that way as well. So when did reading become more of a hassle than a hobby? Was it when books were assigned to us to read for a grade? Even then, not all the books we read in school are boring or hard to understand.

Most people say “I’ll wait for the movie” when they talk about a book people suggest. Why not read the book then connect to the movie in a much deeper way? It may be hard to find the time to read but it’s all worth it. | Hannah Jensen

As kids, we believed that we could achieve the impossible. We jumped from couch to couch, fully knowing that the lava below could lead to our eventual doom. We searched for buried treasure in our backyards, excavating for some kind of ancient relic. We pushed our legs forward, then backwards, over and over again, to swing high up into the clouds.

Yet something happened between then and now. Our imagination seemed to crumble as we gained life experience. Our former dreams and passions transformed into more “realistic” ones. At an older age, people tend to settle for less; we think we aren’t good enough or the goal is too far-fetched, simply because we don’t believe in ourselves. When I was younger I wanted to be President of the United States. That’s right, at the age of 11, I was dead set on being the leader of this country. However, things changed, and now?

I’d gladly leave that job to someone else.

My point is, why is it that when one gets older, they limit their goals and dreams?

If anything, those goals should expand.

Stop diminishing your dreams and start achieving them. | Patty Sokol

listening to each other There’s always chatter. Noise. Words shared between people, but how much of it do we really hear? Someone speaks louder. They raise their voices more. Louder, until there’s just an eruption of noise. Everyone wants to be heard, but no one cares to listen. It’s in conversations between politicians, parents, kids, friends, spouses. We all hear what people are saying, the time is just never taken to go far enough to take notice of what is actually meant, or why.

Even at times of disagreement, we should give the courtesy of trying to understand. We are all so mesmerized by the sounds of our own voices that when others share something, we have to retaliate and renew our significance, so no one forgets that we matter too. We share things with others because we trust them, we want their opinions. If we get the chance, we need to provide it to others as well. So pause for a moment and appreciate the chance to listen, to really think about what is being said.

No one has to tell you anything. | Emily Leo

CUT THE SMALL TALK GET S ER IO US AB O UT YOUR CON VERSATION S “Hey, what’s up?”

“Not much, you?”

“Same.

“Oh cool.”

If we all look at the majority of our text messages, or think back on the conversations we have with some people, this is what our typical conversation would look like.

Just a bunch of normal small talk that we have with almost everyone that we talk to.

But let’s cut the crap.

If I’m going to be completely honest here, small talk is lame. Asking people how their day was, talking about the weather, all the cliché conversation starters are so overrated. If you genuinely care about the conversation that you’re having with people, use it as an opportunity to get to know them on a deeper level.

Go beyond the basics. Sure, knowing their favorite color and favorite food and such are nice things to know about people- but they don’t give you any details as to who that person really is. Getting to know people on a personal level is one of the greatest accomplishments in a blossoming friendship.

Ask the questions you want to answer. Ask people their opinions on things you love or things you can’t stand.

Ask them about life and death and what’s beyond the universe. Ask them about their dreams and their nightmares and what makes them happy or scared.

Then tell them your answers. Tell them why you prefer a certain type of music over others. Tell them about your childhood and why you’re scared to put your trust in people because of one stupid mistake someone made

a few years back. Tell them your embarrassing stories from middle school (because believe me, we all have them). Let them in, don’t hide everything away.

Take some time to actually get to know each other on a deeper level. I personally enjoy people who can get in depth with me and let me know some of their deepest fears because I know if they tell me theirs, I can tell them mine. Having that mutual feeling of trust with another person strengthens a bond between people more than anything.

ASK THE

Don’t be afraid to ask people the intimate and personal questions. Chances are, they’re willing to answer them. I mean, who doesn’t love the chance to tell someone their opinion on complex or controversial topics?

QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO ANSWER

It’s always appreciated to see hard work being put into a conversation because you can be comfortable with your answers. Speak with emotion and don’t be afraid to let people see a side of you that you might be afraid to show anyone else because they don’t care enough to see that side.

If people put in the effort to get to know you on a personal level, don’t take them for granted. Let yourself answer the questions with thought and passion. You might surprise yourself with your own answers to the questions you may have never been asked before and never really thought about. Those are the kind of questions that show a real interest. Those are the questions to look forward to answering, to look forward to asking others.

Never be afraid to cut the small talk and ask the real questions. | Kayla Pray

29

OPINIONS

WHERE’ S THE CUR E? CAN CER FUNDIN G NOT ALL IT’S CR ACK ED UP TO BE

There have been too many tears. I’ve had enough with the negativity that has come to flourish within this disease. It’s time to ask the question many want the answer to.

We can’t afford to be wasting time and energy on the institutes who are just in it for the money.

Where’s the cure for cancer?

Surely my grandmother couldn’t, who after two painful years, passed away on October 16, 2015.

This isn’t a blindly-asked question out of spite and distaste for the doctors who couldn’t save my dying grandmother. I understand that cancer is an extremely complicated disease which does not simply have one “cure.” I understand that every cancer patient is different, and one treatment may work for one, and not for another. But I am asking for the cancer patients I have known, who are clinging to life, and have never bothered or had the heart to question the lack of a cure.

And I’ve known too many people who have been diagnosed, or died as a direct result of their cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, deaths of specific cancers have generally decreased since 1930.

Yet cancer is still the second leading cause of death in the United States.

More importantly, cancer patients can’t afford it.

A day that contained some of the most powerful emotions that I have felt in a long time.

Although my family had been bracing for that moment since the day she was diagnosed, nothing could have prepared me for that moment. When there was that eerie silence on the other end of the phone.

WE LIKE BEING IN CONTROL OF HOW WE LOOK AND HOW EVERYTHING IS FILTERED OUT

My grandma had gone unconscious, and my aunt had asked me to talk to her over the phone. Grandma, at that moment, I knew could hear me, but I also knew I would never get a response.

The way your spirit has haunted me in the months since has almost brought me closer to you as I have longed to be with you in your last months alive.

These are the reasons that we need a cure.

That statistic seems far too high for the amount of research that has and continues to pour into the development of a more reliable treatment.

A cure that could have potentially saved my grandma whose body eventually failed her as the cancer consumed her.

It brings into question what has happened with that funding—and whether it has been used appropriately.

A cure which could likely save my aunt who was diagnosed the same week my grandmother passed away.

While I’m not accusing every “we can cure cancer together!” organization of being a phony, chances are, there probably are quite a few out there.

We have to find a way to prevent these slow and miserable deaths of millions of people.

Though few in number these pseudo organizations are significantly draining resources from organizations who actually are working towards a cure.

It’s time that we find a cure.

30 January 2016 | Issue 3

We owe it to them.

| Meg Metzger-Seymour

EM PTY PO CKETS It’s an ongoing joke at Standley: the technology is old and slow (and let’s not even start with the wifi), the textbooks are outdated and falling apart, and in our entire school there is only one Smart Board that works only some of the time.

EVERY SINGLE STATE THAT SPENDS MORE ON EDUCATION THAN COLORADO RANKS HIGHER IN ACHIEVEMENT

It’s a little funny, but it’s more than a little concerning.

Schools in Colorado overall are not receiving the funding they need to perform the best that they can. It is so shocking to hear that in most other states, students and their families don’t have to pay for things like textbooks and uniforms. And that these states are performing better than we are.

Every single state that spends more on education than Colorado ranks higher

Funding is not being provided where it should be. K-12 schools are incredibly important, and yet are not anywhere near the top of Colorado’s funding priorities at the moment. in achievement. It’s pretty obvious that funding has a direct relation to how well schools perform on average.

On average, Colorado is spending $2,704 less per student than the national average. TABOR and Amendment 23 marked the beginning of the disintegration of Colorado’s per-student funding.

Let’s take a step back and look at how this is affecting anyone related to public schooling.

Sometimes teachers have to pay out of their own pockets for standard classroom supplies.

With every tax cut, less money is granted to schools, resulting in every family having to pay more and more for their child to learn.

We, as students, are here to learn. Without the support we need, some of us are limited in how much we can excel. If some families are left alone to buy certain school supplies that have important applications, low-income families are inherently at a disadvantage, and low-income schools are even more so.

Colorado is also the US state that provides the least teacher compensation versus professions that require similar amounts of schooling, stuck at 78% while a majority of states have percentages above 90. Our teachers have already been treated poorly as it is. It’s pathetic that people who are so instrumental in molding the country’s future are still not getting the compensation they deserve.

Nobody can deny how important education is. No sane government would say that elementary, middle, and high school funding are not at all priorities.

So if we all agree that some new textbooks would be nice, why aren’t we getting that?

Hey Colorado, why don’t you put your money where your mouth is. info from http://www.greateducation. org/statistics-faqs/statistics/

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welcome back, gators.