![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)
How to Celebrate Earth Day
50 years after its creation, Earth Day signifies a worldwide challenge to combat the deterioration of the planet. Students use their platforms to appreciate the world around them.
media by Amanda Brauchler
A panorama of the view at Daniel’s Park in Castle Pines, CO.
April 22, 2020
April 22, 1970 was the first Earth Day. 20 million Americans demonstrated earth sustainability in coast-to-coast rallies fighting against oil spills, factory and power plants pollution, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways disrupting habitats, the loss of the wilderness and extinction of wildlife. These protests in 1970 resulted in the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air Act. Two years later, the Clean Water Act passed. A year after that, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act.
By 1990, 200 million people in 141 countries fought environmental issues. Earth Day 1990 focused on bolstering recycling programs. America’s Earth Day efforts were recognized at the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit, when the founder of Earth day, Senator Gaylord Nelson, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Moving into the 2000s, there were at least 5,000 environmental groups in 184 countries. Earth Day 2000 inspired global and local conversations about using the power of the internet to organize events around the world. Read more about the history of Earth Day here.
The global movement of fifty years continues to inspire generations today.
“With anything, one action can lead to monumental things and that’s exactly the case with the protests. A simple protest was able to bring so much awareness and passion to the hearts of people that continues to live on and manifests itself into one day every year,” Eco Club member, Leanna Navo ’22 said.
Helping boost environmental activism, Eco Club works to promote sustainability within the school and community through collecting recycling, projects and activities.
“As a community, we can continue to do the little things to celebrate our earth from home. It’s as simple as going on a walk or a bike ride to appreciate what we have around us, or taking the steps to avoid turning lights on or taking long showers for a day. Since pollution is already much lower due to quarantine, these small steps can allow us to celebrate something beautiful during this time of stress,” Eco Club Vice President, Anna Bajszar ’20 said.