![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)
BREAKING: Power Outage Leaves Community in Dark for Two Hours
After a two-hour long power outage spanning three high schools in Highlands Ranch, power was restored at 1:23 PM.
media by Amanda Brauchler
Kitchen staff manually enter orders during second lunch after the power outage at noon April 8. Around 2000 student orders need to be manually entered into the lunch system after power was restored.
April 8, 2019
Power was restored today after an outage that affected about three and a half mile radius of the Douglas County community, including both Mountain Vista and Rock Canyon schools and their feeders.
Lights shut off and pod doors slammed shut abruptly around noon April 8, and within seconds back-up-generated lights flickered on. The most common, initial reaction from teachers was to put their classrooms in lock out, but resume teaching.
“It was pitch black in [my office], I grabbed my radio and went out to see what it was. I was notified right away that another school’s power went out too,” School Resource Officer Ryan Wood said. “I just thought maybe a transformer blew or somebody hit something that made the power go out here.”
The power outage occurred 25 minutes before second lunch started, leaving the lunch line and kitchen responsible for manually entering around 2000 student orders. The food served during lunch was room-temperature due to the lack of electricity for heat or refrigeration.
“Oh my god,” Diana Caliz, Kitchen Manager said in reaction to the outage. “We have to write down every number and every name and every item you guys get. Now we backtrack and charge all of those students that came when the power was off.”
As of now, there is no explanation for the power outage. We reached out to Xcel Energy, the company that manages Rock Canyon’s power, and have not received a comment.