![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)
Nicholas TeSelle ‘25. Some know him as a tech director for theater productions or the president of the Student Ambassador Program or even as a member of National Honor Society (NHS), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), National English Honor Society (NEHS)and more. But what most people don’t know about him is that he’s also an entrepreneur.
Connecting gaming and mental health all at once
“WayLessSad” will be a gaming server where you play as if on any other platform that can detect if you are struggling with your mental health. The AI that works for the server is named “Anastasia” and it is the main component in making it all work.
“WayLessSad” has multiple functions but the main focus is mental health. “WayLessSad” raises money through selling merchandise and donating 10% of every product to mental health charities.
“The purpose of way less sad is to make more mental health awareness, to break that stigma of mental health isn’t a thing,” TeSelle said.
How It Works
It uses your statistics between suicide rates in your area, your username, the time you play, things you say into chat and things that seem to be triggers for you. If it seems you need help you will be sent a notification saying something along the lines of, “you seem to be struggling right now”, and get you in contact with a licensed professional to get you help.
All starts with an idea
The idea of “WayLessSad” started when Nick was 13. While his parents were going through divorce TeSelle would turn to video games to cope with his emotions.
“When my parents were going through a divorce when I was younger, I used to use video games to run away from the sadness and what was really going on. I think that my main goal became to be able to create a community that could facilitate that.”
The idea of “WayLessSad” is to be a gaming platform aimed at raising mental health awareness and providing support to those in need of help.
The Man Himself
Nick TeSelle plays a major role in the tech theater department here at Rock Canyon. When asked how he balances it all he responded with “hope, willpower and tears,” TeSelle said. TeSelle has his day scheduled from the moment he wakes up to the moment he falls asleep with school, extracurriculars, meetings and a social life falling in between.
“He’s very positive all the time, and just is able to understand when someone is going through something, and knows what to do to be able to help them get through whatever,” His girlfriend Natalie Patterson ‘26 said.
![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)
