![On Oct. 30, 24 Eco Club members took a tour of the school’s solar panels on the roof. They were guided and taught by an employee from E Light Electric, the company that maintains the school’s solar panels, and learned about how the panels are maintained and cared for. “I was definitely very excited about being on the roof in general,” Eco Club member Olivia Fang ‘26 said. “[It was exciting to] learn more about solar panels and how they work and how they supply energy to our school.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/RCH_2632-1200x800.jpg)
![Math teacher Austin Bennett observes seventh period students step to the board to solve Equation of Circle problems May 2. Bennett has been teaching for a total of four years, with only two of those years spent as a Jag. He hopes after his time as a high school teacher to become a professor. "[College math] is more challenging, and it's good to challenge yourself," Bennett said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0147-1200x900.jpg)
![Varsity girls soccer midfielder Leah Sheahan ‘24 hugs a friend during the Senior Night celebrations before the home game against Mountain Vista High School (MVHS) at Echo Park Stadium April 29. During Senior Night, seniors were given flowers and the opportunity to walk out and take pictures with their family as their future plans and favorite memories were announced over the speakers. The Jags tied 0-0, losing the Continental League Championship. “We were obviously the stronger team but just couldn’t find a way to score, but otherwise our connection and our intensity was really high so I’m proud of that. We just have to find the net,” defense midfielder Clara Geuzaine ‘24 said. “[Losing League] wasn’t the best. It’s better than last year and like, I know our team and we are doing really good. I don’t want to jinx it but like hopefully [we’ll do] good [in playoffs].”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Copy-of-DSC_4277-1-1200x868.jpg)
![In room 4101, Natalie Patterson ‘26, Ariana Magor ‘25 and Celina Salazar ‘25 create a poster in science teacher Kerry Reilly’s Chemistry Honors April 18. The three completed a worksheet and drawing to explain the implosion of a tank for their unit on gas laws. “At the start of class, we watched a video of the tank imploding,” Patterson said. “I think [making a drawing] is something new. I like more artsy activities.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_5019-1200x900.jpeg)
Homecoming Week is busy. From spirit days to Powder Puff, assemblies to bonfires and games to the actual dance, schedules get packed.
As if that wasn’t enough, reservations must be made. Plans must be scheduled. And, outfits must be prepared. Outfits at places like the mall, where so many go to get the cutest dress or tie.
But, how do you ensure you get the dress you want so that your night is perfect?
For Sophia Miller ‘25, that meant going on a shopping spree over the summer.
“I went with a group [and] we got our [dresses] like, really early,” Miller said. “[That was] probably mid-June.”
While June may seem early for some, Miller’s group aimed to beat the crowd to the stores.
“We knew that everything was going to get sold out very quickly,” Miller said.
Harper Bezemek-Aguilar ‘26 and her friends hit the mall a bit later than Miller, still before many others went.
“Me and my friends went shopping a few weeks ago. We wanted to go a little bit early just to have more variety. We all went to the mall and got dressed together,” Bezemek-Aguilar said.
Contrary to the group’s expectations, they found a wide variety of dresses.
“We went to a few different stores and I was actually kind of shocked about how many good dresses they had,” Bezemek-Aguilar said. “We all got a good price for our dresses, and they [are] pretty good dresses too.”
For others, getting an outfit wasn’t their top priority.
“I got [my dress] last weekend, and I got it from Apricot Lane. It was [around] $40 because it was like, 30% off,” Kelsey Ekstrom ‘24 said.
Ekstrom and Avery Starishevsky ‘24 both purchased dresses closer to the dance.
“[I got mine] a couple of weeks ago,” Starishevsky said. “[And] I’m pretty sure I got it at Windsor.”
It’s important to note that while some planned for weeks, others were more spontaneous.
“We didn’t know if we were going to go to Homecoming,” Ekstrom said. “We didn’t really have any plans.”
