![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)
Serving Students Over the Summer: Update
Continue reading to find out more about how students are obtaining food they need over the summer, and how you can help.
media by Kira Zizzo
Feature image for Summer Food Update, displaying meal bags ready for students and families to pick them up. PC: June Everett
July 13, 2021
For many students, summer means no school, warm weather, and summer activities. For some students, however, summer means hunger. Two programs in Douglas County are trying to end food insecurity over the summer.
Douglas County School District (DCSD) Nutrition Services Summer Feeding:
DCSD Nutrition Services is working this summer to make sure no one under 18 years of age faces hunger.
“We are able to provide free meals to anyone ages 18 and under regardless of their income,” DCSD Nutrition Services Training Specialist Kristina Keer said.
The Summer Feeding has been actively providing meals for three weeks, and has served over 117,000 meals in these first weeks, according to Keer.
The Summer Feeding program includes walk-up sites in Castle Rock, Parker, and Highlands Ranch Monday through Friday. A seven-day meal bag pickup is also available on Wednesdays from 11:30am-12:30pm.
Check this link for more information.
Backpack Society:
The Backpack Society is an independent organization that works with Douglas County to provide meals to all students and their families who need them.
“Our mission is to fill the food gap on weekends and during school breaks for students, thus eliminating hunger as a barrier to the student so they can be at their best and have every opportunity to thrive and learn,” Backpack Society founder June Everett said. “We currently support 20 schools!”
The Backpack Society offers five programs: the Student Weekend Program (during the school year), the Family Program (during the school year), School Staff Program (during the school year), School Pantry Program, and the Summer Program, which provides food for the entire week.
Students can volunteer for the Backpack Society to help students and families in need and to give back to their community.
“I loved volunteering at the Backpack Society because it was a reminder that there are still good people out there that want to help,” Marissa Segal ‘21 said. “With so much negativity, it was refreshing to see so much good.”
The Backpack Society is currently accepting donations and volunteers. Check their website for more information. You can sign up here to volunteer.