![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)
![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 its good to challenge yourself, Bennett said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0147-1200x900.jpg)
![The Jaguar student section sits down while the girls basketball team plays in the Great Eight game at the Denver Coliseum against Valor Christian High School Feb. 29. Many students who participated in the boys basketball student section prior to the girls basketball game left before half-time. I think it [the student section] plays a huge role because we actually had a decent crowd at a ranch game. I think that was the only time we had like a student section. And the energy was just awesome, varsity pointing and shooting guard Brooke Harding ‘25 said. I dont expect much from them [the Golden Boys] at all. But the fact that they left at the Elite Eight game when they were already there is honestly mind blowing to me.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_7517-e1716250578550-900x1200.jpeg)
Being a new teacher at a new school can be challenging.
In August of 2021, Payton Holloway started his first year teaching at Rock Canyon High School freshmen Earth Environmental Science.
“The very first class I ever taught, I was so nervous. It was all going well until I had to pull down the projector screen,” Holloway said. “It took me two minutes to pull down the screen, everybody was trying not to laugh. It was so embarrassing.”
But, difficult projector screens weren’t going to get the best of him.
As the years progressed, Holloway found his bearings, discovering his way of teaching and getting to know his students. He now teaches both Earth Environmental Science and Geology.
“Being able to get to know students is my favorite part of teaching. It’s rewarding to see my students grow. Although science isn’t for everybody, I hope that building a relationship with students can help them learn because they are having fun,” Holloway said.
“If you can build a relationship with a student and they trust and listen to you, you can teach them about anything.” — Payton Holloway
Holloway decided to teach when he was in high school, at Broomfield High School. He had many teachers that inspired him.
“[My teacher] Mrs. Davidson made science more hands-on, which made it very interesting for us. She genuinely cared about us as students and that made us care about her class,” Holloway said.
Holloway first attended Black Hills State University in South Dakota for track and field. Then, he attended Metro State University of Denver and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Science Education, along with an emphasis in Environmental Science. He feels that he is becoming a better teacher every year.
“It’s easy to be a good teacher when you are at a school where students like to go to school too, and have coworkers that support you,” Holloway said.
Now, in his third year of teaching, he embraces it, no longer nervous about teaching every day. Instead, he focuses on the relationships. He also works as a coach, training the boys on the sophomore boys basketball team and jumps for the track team.
“If you can build a relationship with a student and they trust and listen to you, you can teach them about anything,” Holloway said.
![English teacher Colleen Lamb grades College Prep English assignments during period two Nov. 10. Lamb, who has been teaching for 27 years, decorates her classroom with posters and handmade college flags from her senior students. Everything I enjoy about English happens primarily in the classroom, Lamb said. So, thankfully, the college [I worked at] had a teaching program, and I was able to do my post-grad work for free while I was working [there].”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_1158-1200x900.jpeg)