![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)
We PROMise It’s Going to Happen
Here’s everything you need to know about the decision to hold the 2021 seniors-only prom at Main Event April 24.
media by L. Hansen
Ava Schneiderman ‘21 looks for a prom dress at Dillard’s April 21. Despite the location of Main Event, the student council has decided to keep traditional and formal attire for the event. “I’m glad that it’s still happening. Sometimes dress shopping is a bit of a hassle, but it’s nice to get to dressed up for a night because you don’t really get to wear long dresses,” Schneiderman said.
April 21, 2021
The final decision for 2021 prom has been made. The event will take place at Main Event (64 Centennial Blvd, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129) April 24 from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
“We decided [on] Main Event since it can host our senior class all at one time. [It] was very difficult to find and acquire a venue that would accommodate such a large group due to COVID restrictions. We rented out Main Event so no other people will be in the venue when RC Prom is happening,” Student Body Public Relations Officer Reagan Oates ‘21 said.
Tickets were available until April 16 on MySchoolBucks for $30.00 for this seniors-only event. The remaining tickets will be raffled off to seniors who would like to bring a junior guest.
“In my opinion, I feel like senior-only is more fair considering the juniors will have an opportunity next year,” Alex LaMotte ‘21 said.
Due to the Tri-County Health Department’s decision to move Rock Canyon to remote learning from April 13 to April 27, new requirements to attend Prom have been put in place. Attendees must test negative for COVID-19 72 hours prior to the event.
“We know that protocols also change on a frequent basis depending on positivity numbers in the community. We are still looking at options for us to safely hold an event. We are very excited that we can hold an event for our seniors in any fashion and are trying to do everything we can to get back to normal,” Activities Director Kevin Cary said.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the DCSD Department of Health, Wellness and Prevention will run a rapid-test center in the Thunder Ridge High School parking lot April 21 for students, staff, and families. Tests will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the Google Form to sign up for a fifteen-minute time slot is linked here. Those tested will be contacted via phone within 24-48 hours or can access the patient portal and follow instructions outlined in an email sent to students, staff, and families from Administrative Assistant Erin Kiyan April 19.
The Student Council and the administration have rented Main Event for the night, so there will be no other Main Event attendees than Rock Canyon students and staff. There will be a dance floor and DJ to give the effect of a traditional prom.
“Many students don’t realize that most of Rock Canyon’s proms have additional activities to do rather than just dancing, and Main Event allows all different kinds of interest and students to be drawn to attending,” Oates said.
This year’s prom running differently left some dissatisfied.
“As a senior, I’m pretty disappointed in the whole prom situation along with this year as a whole,” Sam Goldin ‘21 said. “Prom has always been something I’ve looked forward to, and for me and my fellow seniors to never get to experience that is devastating beyond words… I’ve done my best to advocate for a somewhat traditional prom, yet my voice and so many others seem to have been lost in this chaos of this year.”
Others believe administration members are doing the best they can to host a successful prom.
“The fact that they are still considering [prom] and trying speaks volume that they are trying to give seniors the farewell that they deserve,” social studies teacher Katie Lemeshewsky said.