![Minutes before the Activities Fair in the gym, president Abhi Gowda ‘26 prepares the stall for his club Helping Hands, Sept. 4. A relatively new club, Helping Hands was co-started by Gowda and focuses on assisting the homeless, and just last year they succeeded in raising a couple hundred donations to send to shelters. This year, they have goals to expand, with hopes to increase volunteer opportunities and take in-person trips to shelters, as well as extend their help beyond just homeless people. “The Activities Fair gives a lot of underclassmen the opportunity to really get to know the Canyon culture, and it gives them many opportunities for service and volunteering,” Gowda said. “[Through the Activities Fair,] I hope to find a bunch of new and passionate members about our club and just get our name out there and spread awareness to the cause that we’re fighting for.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1-2-1200x885.jpg)
![The winter guard team makes fifth place at the state championship finals in the Denver Coliseum, March 30. The team performed to Barnes Country's “Glitter and Gold,” lead by coaches Margo Sanford, Blair Bickerton and Anna Orgren. In their class there were a total of nine groups participating, and the top five who made it to finals received a plaque. “[Walking onto the stage] is very nerve-wracking, but also very exciting as well. When you first start color guard there's a lot of anxiety and uncertainty when you first perform in front of an audience, but once you've done it for a while, it starts to become the best part of the season,” Ella West ‘25 said. “It's very fulfilling to see an audience react to something you've put your heart and soul into.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Both-socal-media-nd-website-main-1-1200x846.jpg)
![April marks the 25th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, created by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). This month is to spread awareness of the harassment, assault and abuse that happens around the world. The symbol that represented the month was a teal ribbon; however, some survivors of assault create different symbols and movements like the TikTok trend in 2022, where survivors would tattoo Medusa on their body, in honor of her backstory in Greek Mythology. “I don't think [this month is known] at all. I rarely see anybody talk about it. I rarely see much of an emphasis on posting it online, or much discussion about it, and I feel like there needs to be way more discussion,” an anonymous source said. “I think just validating every experience that a person has gone through, regardless of the degree of it, the severity, is an essential step into making sure that people are aware that this is a very real problem in a society and that we need to do better in addressing it.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0011-1200x900.jpg)
![Lesbian Visibility Day is April 26, and it’s a holiday to celebrate the lesbian community of the world. Lesbian Visibility day was established in 2008 by many queer activists and organizations who sought to raise more awareness for lesbian history and culture. “So this is why during Lesbian Visibility [Day] we celebrate and center all lesbians, both cis and trans, while also showing solidarity with all LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary people,” Linda Reily, in an article written by her, said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lesbian-Visibility-day.jpeg)
Newsies the Musical
All for one and one for all! Newsies hits the stage Feb. 27 through March 2.
The cast of Newsies rehearses after school in the auditorium Feb. 20. The cast, crew, and pit members have been working since the end of December to put the production together. “I play the part of Joseph Pulitzer and it’s fun being a part of a family.” Lily Schmoker ’19 said.
March 1, 2019
Disney’s Newsies the musical is coming to Rock Canyon from February 27 through March 2. Shows start at 7:00 p.m. and on March 2 there is a 1:00 p.m. matinee. While most tickets have sold out, there are some single seats for evening performances and more openings during the Saturday matinee.
Months of preparation went into preparing the show, including: students playing in the pit, the performers, the students working behind the scenes, and the production has a lot of moving parts that come together for one spectacular show.
“My favorite part of being in the musical is entertaining an audience. I love giving people something to be entertained by,” Actress Lily Schmoker ‘19 said.
The band and orchestra students participating in the pit have the responsibility of learning all of the music behind the songs on stage. During their rehearsal, they memorize notes and practice with the performers.
Along with the music, the actors spend long hours in the auditorium going over lines and bringing to life a Broadway show. While the finished product is presented in two hours, the students have spent many days and nights putting the production together.
While the actors are front and center, there is much going on behind the scenes where the techies are working to build sets, move props, and keep the show running smoothly.
“I am on light crew and basically we go up in the catwalks which are above the stage and audience and we hang all the lights for the shows, and then we program them for ques,” Aspen Crawford ‘21 said. “I like the quick pace. It’s really hard at times and it’s kind of stressful at times but I like that.”
Come see the show with friends and family and be sure to support your fellow Jags by getting your tickets soon and let them know their hard work does not go unnoticed.