![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)
Winter Break Breakup
Students and staff discuss their excitement and stressors of returning to school in the new semester.
![Students sit together during lunch to talk to each other Jan. 19. After two weeks of winter break, they began to all eat together in a group again. “[Being back has] been great, I missed seeing my friends at school and the energy from them is great,” Keilani Longwell ‘25 said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DSC_0003-900x603.jpg)
media by Ally Kelley
Students sit together during lunch to talk to each other Jan. 19. After two weeks of winter break, they began to all eat together in a group again. “[Being back has] been great, I missed seeing my friends at school and the energy from them is great,” Keilani Longwell ‘25 said.
January 31, 2023
Hundreds of students roam the halls, sleepily talking amongst themselves. Their brains focus on trying to stay awake when a loud ringing bursts through the halls. The students drag themselves to their first period. After two weeks of sleeping in, staying home or going on vacation, school starts bright and early, at full force.
“[Starting classes was] pretty hard, like you have to start all over again,” Mon Intongk ‘24 said.
With so many classes handing out homework, students’ assignments pile up along with stress and exhaustion. According to a poll conducted by @rcrockmedia’s Instagram on Jan. 26, out of 111 students, 30 percent of students say they are spending three to four hours on homework per night. 10 percent of students say they spend five or more hours on homework. Raegan Synk ‘23’s days have already been filled with work from her classes.
“So far this semester, it’s been crazy. I’ve already gotten an essay that was due today, and I have projects already,” Synk said.
With classes and teachers changing, students have to find their way through a new schedule. Their daily rhythm has to adjust to this semester’s new normal. Harper Bezemik-Aguilar ‘26 has to navigate a new schedule now that her teachers and classes have changed.
“It’s been a little confusing, since I’ve been so used to having my classes from the first semester, but it’s also been really fun. It’s nice starting fresh with new classes,” Bezemik-Aguilar said.
Although starting classes can be difficult, there is still a bright side to going back to school. Seeing friends can brighten up the stress of returning. Nicholas TeSelle ‘25 was excited to catch up with his friends after break.
“It feels great, I honestly should have texted with them more while we were on break but it was really cool to see everyone again, ” TeSelle said.
Switching classes can offer benefits, as students could get new classes with friends or without people they didn’t get along with. But even without switching many classes, students can still keep up good spirits with friends. Sophia Bobier ‘24 only has friends in a few classes, but listens to music to keep up a good mood.
“I have a friend in one of my classes, it’s very nice to have them there. In my other classes I don’t really know anyone,” Bobier said.
After the freedom of break, faculty members also have to return to their jobs and teach. However, math teacher Karen Bukowski has a positive attitude and looks forward to teaching. Bukowski is prepared to start the new semester with her new classes.
“I am really excited to come back to school and for a great spring semester. I have excellent students and I really quite missed them over that break,” Bukowski said.