![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)
![Ice and snow make it difficult for drivers on the road. During snowstorms, drivers have poor visibility, and frozen roads make it difficult to stay in control. “Driving home from Denver [on Friday], the neighborhoods weren’t plowed. By the time we got back they were only plowing highways. We spun out, nearly got stuck and fishtailed a few different times,” Connor Pugh ‘26 said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Untitled_Artwork-e1732045465987.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)
Trees are up, stockings are hung, and lights twinkle all around–it’s officially December!
I enjoy the holiday decorations as much as others, and the festive mood they bring, but I feel it needs to be said that some people get carried away and put up Christmas decorations too early.
We should not be trying to compete with stores over who can put out their trees first. December is the month of Christmas, and people should wait until then to put up their Christmas decorations.
Christmas is a special time. Decorating too early makes Christmas less special because it becomes such a big chunk of the year.
Also, putting up Christmas decorations too early takes away from the spirit of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is all about being grateful for the things we have, but Christmas has a totally different meaning. A lot of people associate Christmas with wanting things, which is contrary to showing gratitude like we should be at Thanksgiving.
According to a recent survey conducted by @rockmedia on Instagram, 24% of people began decorating in early November, 63% decorated after Thanksgiving and only 13% waited until December.
Clearly, some people are ready to get started as soon as possible.
“I’m an early decorator. I think after Halloween, it’s Christmas season. There’s the day or week of Thanksgiving, but after Halloween, it’s Christmastime,” Olivia Barrett ‘24 said.
Most people seem to feel that the Christmas season starts once Thanksgiving is done.
“Once you are done eating Thanksgiving, it’s time for that Christmas tree to be up,” Special Educational Assistant Xzavier Price said.
Price is not the only one with that opinion.
(media by Gabe Mascitti)
“[People should decorate] the day after Thanksgiving, because then it’s just not Thanksgiving anymore and it’s officially Christmas time,” Kelsey Ekstrom ‘24 said.
An upside to decorating for Christmas at Thanksgiving is that it frees up time in December, but the downside is that it makes more work for an already busy holiday.
People spend a lot of time cooking, cleaning, traveling and hosting visitors for Thanksgiving.
Decorating is just one more stressor that people don’t need at that time. Waiting until December gives you time to relax and recover from Thanksgiving, so they can better appreciate Christmas time.
I propose that we all wait for December next year to deck the halls, and let Thanksgiving have its moment. There are things about Thanksgiving that can make you happy, like spending time with friends and family and eating delicious food. December will come, and once it does, feel free to deck those halls and have a very merry Christmas.
