![Grabbing onto climbing holds, Kayden Ozdemir ‘24 attempts climb 30 during the first competition of the climbing season, arranged by American Scholastic Climbing League, at Denver Bouldering Club South Nov. 11. Ozdemir’s highest ranked completed climb was number 28. He finished in second place within the individual category. “I feel a little bit gutted not being able to complete [climb 30], but with the progression of the season comes more learning opportunities, not just for myself, but the team, too,” Ozdemir said. “It definitely is one of the best feelings, throwing great attempts down at the hardest problems in the set.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/AAaAGustafson_RockClimbing_11.11-25-1200x800.jpg)
![Zoology teacher Nikki Dobos dissects a frog during her second-period Zoology class Nov. 8. Zoology students dissected frogs and found things such as their eggs and past meals inside them. The class had five different dissections throughout the semester to learn about biodiversity and phyla. “I like teaching kids about animals and facts about animals they didn’t know before, but also the importance of biodiversity,” Dobos said. “I think more students should take [Zoology], especially if you love animals and dissections because you can learn more than just general [animal] knowledge.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_4677-1-e1700112293406-1063x1200.jpg)
As you walk into the halls with sleepy, tired eyes the morning of Friday, Sept. 15, you suddenly see colors, designs and places from all over the country.
Every year, Student Council spends the week prior to Homecoming Week making decorations for the school. The theme was “Route RC,” going to places such as Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Utah and Colorado.
“I really liked the Texas pod because I liked dressing up like a cowboy and that pod represented that,” Hunter Willard ‘26 said. “I also liked all the different details and the overall theme of it.”
media by Elly Brooks
Outside the 4000s pod, a black paper banner painted with the words “Route RC 23 Homecoming” represents the overall theme for this year's Homecoming Sept. 22. The other pods were decorated with specific locations from the road trip theme. “My favorite design this year is the banner. It is so innovative and [Student Council] really applied their artistic abilities in showcasing the road trips theme,” Veronica Baxter ‘25 said.
