![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)
FRIDAY FACULTY FEATURE: Gregory Thomas’s Personal Training Business
A look into special education assistant Gregory Thomas’s life inside and outside school.
![Special education assistant Gregory Thomas stands next to the art wall Sept. 1. Thomas goes to classes with different students throughout the day. "[I go] to classes with them to make sure they are getting their needs met and help when needed with their assignments. Anything to help them feel comfortable in their classes along with keeping them from the feeling of being overwhelmed," Thomas said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/FCAD06ED-B017-4775-8A7E-B00BF249641D-e1665182770925-775x900.jpeg)
media by Bronny Cooper
Special education assistant Gregory Thomas stands next to the art wall Sept. 1. Thomas goes to classes with different students throughout the day. “[I go] to classes with them to make sure they are getting their needs met and help when needed with their assignments. Anything to help them feel comfortable in their classes along with keeping them from the feeling of being overwhelmed,” Thomas said.
October 7, 2022
While students laugh and talk, special education assistant Gregory Thomas makes jokes as he walks across the SSN classroom.
Q: What is your job here at school?
A: I am an educational assistant in the SPED (special education) department.
Q: What does the day-to-day look like for you?
A: Usually I will probably have two to three students I am assigned to help throughout the day. Consisting of going to classes with them to make sure they are getting their needs met and help when needed with their assignments. Anything to help them feel comfortable in their classes along with keeping them from the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Q: If someone wanted to find you where are you during the day?
A: I can be found during the day with my students in their classroom, SPED offices, or the SSN room hanging out with my buddy KING David.
Q: What’s your favorite color?
A: Blue.
Q: What is your favorite part about working here?
A: Honestly being able to work with so many different kids, so many different personalities. Having the opportunity to get to know each and every one of them to achieve their individual goals.
Q: Why do you wear earrings?
A: It’s part of my personality and style. It looks good and it’s a little bit straightforward about business. I like to shine, it’s just my style. I like to look good, feel good, [and] teach good.
Q: What would you do if you couldn’t take this job?
A: I am my own boss and I have had my own personal training business for the past five years. So, if I wasn’t working in the school, I would just do that all day, every day, and create more opportunities for athletes in Colorado.
Q: So is this like a part time job?
A: Let’s count both as full time!
Q: What do you do for your own business?
A: I am a personal trainer, but more than anything, I am trying to change the person that comes to me. Part of my company name is Renovation Studio; meaning change. From day 1 with a new client, I devote my time and efforts to exploiting the weaknesses and turn them into strengths. I basically want to help them achieve their goals however I can. Whatever your goals are, that’s my job.
Q: What’s your favorite tattoo?
A: My favorite is probably Zoe (my daughter) or the Gorilla.
Q: How many tattoos do you have?
A: 12.
Q: Are any of them colored?
A: Is shaded a color? Then they’re all shaded.
Q: What is Channel.4?
A: Channel.4 is my nickname, it was given to me when I played pro football. My number was always four. They said, “when I played it was like I put on a show.” They started yelling, “tune in to channel.4.” So I kind of ran with it and created my own business out of it. Everyone calls me C4. I love gorillas, I like to say that I am, or I act like a gorilla. That’s a whole different story, so that’s the meaning behind that.
Q: Where did you use to play football?
A: The last time I played was for Austin Wilde, in Austin, Texas. I played for them for two years while I graduated college, so I was taking my final courses in college and also playing at the same time so it was pretty, pretty fun.
Q: How many houses do you have?
A: I have two apartments. One in Colorado Springs and one in Aurora.
Q: Why?
A: I work in Denver, and my gym location is in Englewood, but my girls all stay in Monument. A lot of times I get off late and don’t want to drive an hour home and turn around and do it again in the morning.